Sports
Young talent to lead women's golf
By Levi Lorenzo '19
September 1, 2016
Tags sports
The Hamilton Women’s golf team returns six of its seven members from the 2015-16 season, including its top three scorers. While the team will miss the presence of captain Liz Morris’16, the six returners are joined by two freshmen to round out a roster of eight. Returning for the Continentals are Charlotte Chandler ’17, Rui Osaka ’17, Molly Pivirotto ’18, Katie Veasey ’17, Libbie Warner ’19, and Electra Washburn ’19. Annie Mclanahan ’20 and Winda Wanikpun ’20 join the squad and look to make an impact right away.
Washburn, Warner, and Veasey were the Continentals top three scorers in 2015-16, all scoring averages below 88. Head Coach Steve Stetson describes these three as “a tenacious threesome which gives our women their strongest base ever.” As first years, Washburn and Warner burst on to the scene to lead the Continentals with averages of 84.43 and 85.21, respectively, highlighted by Warner’s program record 71, the first ever round under par by a Hamilton woman golfer, in a dual match with St. Lawrence in March. At last year’s NESCAC championships, the inaugural NESCAC championship in women’s golf, Washburn and Warner both finished in the top ten golfers leading the Continentals to a fourth place finish amongst six teams. Coach Stetson went so far as to describe Washburn as “the most highly recruited individual we have landed at Hamilton in our time here as a staff.” While these two will look to build on their success in their sophomore years, Veasey will be entering her fourth year as a starter and, according to Stetson, “has worked really hard to maker her short game as good as her long game” adding that she “has become a very consistent golfer” and that she “hits the ball a long ways.” Stetson also cited Wanikpun and Chandler, noting that Wanikpun will contribute immediately while Chandler provides consistency to the lineup.
The team will look to get off to a hot start this weekend at the St. Lawrence Invitiational and continue their success throughout the fall, as they play each weekend leading up to the NESCAC championships at Middlebury the weekend of Oct. 8 and 9. The team looks to improve on its results from last year. “To become more competitive in the NESCAC we need to have four low scores both Saturday and Sunday,” Warner explained, adding: “Last year we would be competitive for one but not two days, so I think it’s essential that we focus on improving on both days.” Warner is confident that the team can improve, however, and pointed to a growth in both numbers and talent as evidence.
The fall season moves quickly for the Continentals, consisting of just six consecutive weekends of play, but the team has prepared well. Coach Stetson highlighted the team’s use of a computer radar system that enabled the players to refine their game in the winter months along with the indoor putting green which helps players perfect their short game when golf courses are not playable. Additionally, the team employed yoga and lifting in the offseason as well. The Continentals have worked hard in the offseason and are ready to prove it on the course.