BEREA, OHIO- The 2009 Baldwin Wallace University women's spring golf team is looking to improve on its 2008 fall season and build on a third-place finish at last year's Ohio Athletic Conference Championship Tournament.
The Yellow Jackets are led by Head Coach Sean Strickland, who is in his first season as women's golf coach and assistant women's basketball coach.
"We had a pretty young and inexperienced group heading into the fall," said Strickland. "As the season progressed, we started to see a lot of improvement as our women got more golf under their belts."
"The last tournament of the fall was our best result as every golfer shot either a career or season-best round," said Strickland. "It was a great way to build momentum heading into the spring season. We are looking forward to an even better result this spring."
The Yellow Jackets will get their first to chance to build on that momentum on their annual spring break trip to Tampa and Sarasota, Florida from March 7-14. On the trip, BW will play one dual match and work on honing their skills for the rugged northern portion of their schedule.
BW will be paced by senior Lydia Cole (East Canton), who posted a team-best 90.12 stroke average during the fall. Cole carded a career-best 82 at the October Clash at the Clouse Tournament at Wittenberg University at Windy Knoll Golf Course in Springfield.
"Lydia had a solid fall and we're counting on her to be our team-leader again this spring, noted Strickland. "She has a lot of experience playing at this level and her scores have continued to improve each season."
BW will also rely heavily on freshman Ali Jones (West Muskingum). Jones was second this fall with an average of 96.25 and a single-round-best of 91 at the Clash.
"Ali gained a great deal of experience and matured a lot this fall," said Strickland. "Even in her first season of collegiate golf, she showed us that she has the talent and ability to help our program this spring and for the next four years."
Also looking to contribute are sophomores Sam Migalski (Monahawkin, N.J./ Southern Regional) and Nicole Carlone (Canton/ St. Thomas Aquinas). The two averaged 101.75 and 105.00, respectively, during the fall. Migalski also tied for BW's third lowest round of the fall with a 96 at the Clash. Senior Lindsay Beichler (Orrville/ Smithville) and freshman Caci Lewandowski (Sharon Center/ Medina Highland) also saw significant playing time this fall and will look to make an impact in the spring of 2009.
"The improvement shown this spring by Sam, Nicole, Lindsay and Caci will be a big key and probably will determine our success as a team," said Strickland. "In college golf, five players make up a team and the top four scores each day count toward the team total. The consistency shown by these four women will be the key."
The Yellow Jackets have finished in the top half of the conference tournament in each of the last five years, including their third-place showing last year at Colonial Golfers Club.
Overall, BW is scheduled to compete in five tournaments this spring, including The OAC Championship Tournament on April 25-26 at the River Greens Golf Course in West Lafayette and hosted by Muskingum College.
"It will be important for us to get off to a good start and continue to improve during the course of the spring," said Strickland. "Our goal is to get better each time we play a round and eventually shoot our best golf at the conference championship."
The Yellow Jackets open the northern portion of their schedule on March 28-29 at the Grove City College Invitational Tournament at the Grove City Country Club in Grove City, Pennsylvania.
FOR MORE BW SPORTS INFORMATION, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327 and e-mail at kruple@bw.edu or Assistant SID Nick Minerd by phone at 440-826-2780 and e-mail at nminerd@bw.edu. You can contact Sean Strickland by phone at 440-826-3433 and e-mail at sstricl@bw.edu. You can access all of the latest BW sports information by logging onto our Athletics Web site at www.bw.edu/athletics.
