Williams women's golf lands second straight NCAA Tournament bid

- May 06, 2008

The Williams women's golf team has secured a second consecutive bid to the NCAA Tournament in just its fourth year of varsity play. A year ago the Ephs finished 10th out of 20 teams.

"We're excited to be invited to the NCAA Tournament again, because it is such a great experience for the team," noted co-head coach Kris Herman. "The hard work by the team in both the fall and spring seasons is what made this possible."

Williams will join 18 other teams in Waverly, Iowa, to try and snap the streak of eight consecutive titles won by Methodist College (NC). The tournament is being hosted by Wartburg College at the Centennial Oaks Golf Club in Waverly.

Williams and Middlebury (13) are the only two New England teams to make the tournament.

Centennial Oaks is a British style layout of 6,614 yards and par is 72. The tournament will be a four-day 72-hole event.

Even though the Ephs have no seniors in their lineup they do possess experience. Three players from last year's 10th place team return in juniors Melissa Barton and Laura Koplik, along with sophomore Anne O'Leary.

Sophomore Kait O'Brien and first year Lauren Anstey will join the returnees. The top four scores on each team are counted each day.

The Ephs are seeded sixth in this year's event. Williams won four of 10 competitions over the fall and spring seasons taking home top honors at Middlebury, Vassar, the Jack Leaman Invitational and won the NESCAC Tournament for the second year in a row. In the other six events the Ephs finished no lower than 6th and that was in the first event of the fall at St. Lawrence.

"We're looking forward to trying to crack the top five this year," state Herman.

NCAA Division III Women's Golf Tournament Field

1. Methodist University
2. Gustavus Adolphus College
3. University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)
4. Southwestern University (Texas)
5. University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point
6. Williams College
7. Illinois Wesleyan University
8. Otterbein College
9. DePauw University
10. Allegheny College
11. Olivet College
12. University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire
13. Middlebury College
14. McMurry University
15. Mount Holyoke College
16. Wartburg College
17. Franklin College
18. St. Lawrence University
19. Pacific University (Oregon)
20. Illinois College