CC Championship Website
GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Poor weather conditions have wiped out nearly half of the Gettysburg College women's golf team's scheduled events this season, but the lack of competitive rounds won't deter the Bullets in their quest to claim their second-straight Centennial Conference championship this weekend at the Olde Homestead Golf Course in New Tripoli, Pa., on April 25-26.
With a relatively young corps of players in tow, Head Coach
Susan Konstalid guided the Bullets to new heights last season with four tournament victories, culminating in the program's first-ever conference title. The Bullets erased an eight-stroke deficit on the final day of competition to take the title by 10 strokes overall.
This season's team has marched its way to four team titles in six events, despite battling poor and inconsistent weather throughout the fall and spring. Three members of the squad have championship experience, led by sophomore
Leah Tuscano (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley), who finished runner-up as a freshman with back-to-back rounds of 86. She has four top-five finishes this season and is averaging just over 90 strokes per round.
“One of Leah's greatest strengths is her consistency,” said Konstalid. “She is a very solid player with some good experience from last year. She should be a great asset to the team this weekend.”
The remaining starting upperclassmen to compete at last year's championship are sophomores
Marybeth Scott (Chester Spring, Pa./The Hill School) and
Alex Moran (Boxford, Mass./The Governor's Academy). Scott placed 12th last season, while Moran was tied for 24th. Both competitors have dropped their averages in their second seasons, including Moran shaving nearly 18 strokes.
“All the teams and players should be familiar with the course, so playing the same course as last year should not be a factor,” commented Konstalid on the return to Olde Homestead. “However, the additional experience Marybeth, Alex, and Leah have gained throughout this year as sophomores should help them perform their best this weekend.”
The returning starters have formed a strong nucleus for Konstalid to work with, a core strengthened by a pair of talented first-years. Freshmen
Caroline Nathan (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman) and
Shelby Glass (Fair Haven, N.J./Rumson-Fair Haven Regional) have jumped into the lineup ready to swing and proved their potential early on. Nathan leads the squad in scoring average at 90 strokes per round, while Glass is third with just over 92. Their impact on the lineup could prove the difference this weekend.
“Playing in their first conference championship can be a big challenge for a freshman,” said Konstalid. “It is also a big opportunity. We don't really know how our freshmen, Shelby and Caroline, will respond; we'll have to wait and see. However, I feel they are up to the challenge, are well prepared, and will do well.”
As a team, Gettysburg is on pace to break the school record for scoring average set just last year. The Bullets enter the weekend averaging just over 368, nine strokes better than last year's pace. Despite the positives, the challenges remain in the form of course conditions and Gettysburg's primary opposition to a repeat, McDaniel College.
“After looking at the scores from this spring, of all the teams competing this weekend, I believe McDaniel would be considered the favorite,” said Konstalid. “They have played some good golf this spring up to this point.”
The Green Terror are averaging slightly higher than Gettysburg this season at 370. The two teams have met twice this season with both teams recording a 380 at the Gettysburg Fall Invitational. At the rain-shortened McDaniel Spring Invitational on March 28-29, the Bullets led the hosts by five strokes after the first round, but the Terror improved their play in nine rounds on day two to finish two strokes ahead of Gettysburg.
Muhlenberg College plays host to this year's championship, slated to begin Saturday morning. McDaniel leads all competing schools with five titles, while Muhlenberg has claimed two and Gettysburg one.
