On Saturday, the Georgetown University women’s golf team claimed its first tournament win in the team’s history. After traveling to Piscataway, N.J., the 1-year-old team fought inclement weather to edge out Boston College by a single stroke.
After posting a 333 in Friday’s round, Georgetown was ranked third behind Rutgers and St. John’s Five strokes behind Rutgers, the Hoyas were well seated going into Saturday’s round. “I felt strongly they could win this event,” Coach Leland Beckel said. Teeing off at 9:20 a.m. on Saturday, Beckel coached the golfers as gusting winds and cold temperatures forced the team to alter their game. “By the third hole, the temperature had dropped 10 degrees, and it was windy and misting. We had a one or two club wind,” Beckel said, noting the players were forced to use longer clubs for shorter holes.
During Saturday’s match, Beckel pushed the team to concentrate on playing from shot to shot, not trying to shoot a particular score. “Each player had the shot that could make or break the team,” Beckel said.
Despite the gusting winds and chilling temperatures, Georgetown posted a 326 during Saturday’s round, giving the Hoyas a final composite score of 659, one stroke below Boston College (660) and two below St. John’s score of 661. Rutgers and the Long Island University-Brooklyn finished out the top five with 663 and 665, respectively.
Freshman Christy Larrimore led the Hoya squad and tied for third overall after posting a two-day total of 159 (81,78). Sophomores Lauren Frazer and Connie Isler ranked 13th and 17th with scores of 164 (81, 83) and 166 (84, 82), respectively. Freshman Trish Ely completed the Hoya team, shooting a combined score of 171 strokes (88, 83).
In her second season coaching the team, Beckel, a former professional golfer, is pleased that the team has claimed its first title in its fourth competition this season. “I think this is indicative of what they can do,” she said. The team is working to compete in more Southern tournaments this spring because the competition is tougher as warmer temperatures allow for more practice. This practice will be essential in the coming semester as the team prepares for its first Big East competition in April.
The Hoyas will be playing again this weekend in the First Annual Women’s Hoya Golf Tournament. The two-day tournament will begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26 at the Reston National Golf Course in Reston, Va.
