Freshmen lead women's golf to sixth place at Nittany Lion Invite

To those students who required the lure of body-warming — or numbing as the case may be — beverages to vacate their toasty rooms and amble a half-mile in the bitter fall air to Prospect Avenue this weekend, members of the Princeton women's golf team offer little sympathy.

This past weekend at the Nittany Lion Invitational at Penn State, the Tigers spent upwards of 11 hours on the links shooting three rounds of 18 holes; their perceptive insulation from the cold lay in competitive focus however, not imbibed sensory depressants.

In a challenging field, Princeton placed sixth, shooting 933 for three rounds. Host Penn State topped the field with 914, barely edging out James Madison, which tallied 915.

Princeton was led by freshman Avery Kiser, who finished third with a score of 224 for three rounds on the par-72 course. Sophomore Esty Dwek carded a 234, good enough for 16th place. Two more freshmen — Meg Nakamura and Taryn Haliday — tied for 37th place, as each of them shot 240.

The only upperclassman on the scoring squad was junior Vanessa Redman, tied for 44th with 244.

While the combined totals may appear mediocre, a round by round analysis lends an encouraging light to this weekend's results. In the first round, the team recorded an excellent 309, leaving them only one shot behind leader Penn State. Freshman Kiser made par, at 72, which helped the team total significantly. Indeed, in the first round, all three Princeton freshmen recorded their top scores of the weekend, with Nakamura and Haliday shooting 78 and 79, respectively.

"My goals for this weekend were to put together three solid rounds of golf. I wanted to keep my head in the game and play consistently," Kiser said.

Unfortunately for her and the majority of her teammates, that consistency did not materialize. Only Dwek improved as the weekend progressed, gradually dropping her scores from 81 to 77 to 76.

Kiser conceded that she had "never walked 36 holes of continuous holes of golf" and that it was "a trying day for my physical, mental and golf-related stamina." The transition to collegiate golf, both in physical practice and off the course are issues that the entire team may need to address in order for cohesive success this year.

Kiser echoes her classmates in granting that "becoming accustomed to the change in my general life as well as golf has been rough".

With the loss of Julia Allison '01, last year's individual Ivy League champion, Dwek and Redman will look to provide leadership both on and off the course to this young, but promising team.

The freshmen are not only talented, but also gaining in experience.

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The team has also lacked the experience of junior Megan Milam who is not playing this fall while studying abroad.

Luckily for the Tigers, the fall season has negligible statistical importance in the determination of the Ivy League crown. Through the next three tournaments, the team looks to develop consistency and strength, both mental and physical, so as to be ready to challenge for the League title come May.

For loyal fans of Princeton willing to brave the recently turned weather, the women are back in action this weekend — Oct. 6 and 7 — hosting the Princeton Invitational at Springdale Golf Club. Just make sure the beverage in your thermos flask is hot chocolate.