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The William and Mary women’s golf team enters 2012-13 with a young but very talented team that could challenge for the CAA title in a new-look conference. Director of Golf Jay Albaugh begins his 10th season with the Tribe with a roster of eight all-conference candidates and a new and innovative partnership with Callaway Golf, and a goal of returning to national prominence for the first time in 30 years.
Seniors
W&M will be led this year by a pair of seniors, including top returner Betsy Birchall. Birchall ranked second on the team in 2011-12 with a 78.26 stroke average, and finished 19th at the CAA Championships. Already the school record-holder in one, two, and three-rounds, Birchall is also a two-time NGCA Scholar All-American. Katy Hutcherson enters her senior year looking to continue the improvement she began last season, when she averaged 82.31 strokes and had two top-25 finishes in six events. Over the summer, Hutcherson took part in the PureSilk National Team Championship, and her exposure to the very top levels of collegiate golf will prove a boon both to her own game as well as that of the team.
Sophomores
The Tribe has no juniors this season, but the sophomore class proved last year that they are ready to help carry the team to new heights. Kellie Edelblut was the most consistent performer in the class, averaging 79.59 strokes to rank fifth all-time among freshman at the College. Her six-over 222 at the ECU Intercollegiate was one of the top tournaments ever scored by a Tribe golfer, and she had two top-20 finishes on the season. Edelblut also played alongside Hutcherson at the National Team Championship this summer.
Kelly Okun also had a strong freshman campaign, improving into one of the team’s top golfers as the year progressed. Her breakout performance came at Kingsmill in March, when she was the only golfer in the entire field to break par with a second-round 70 (-1) en route to a 15th-place showing. She was also the Tribe’s top finisher at the CAA Championships, tying for 14th at +16. Anna McMullen averaged 81.45 strokes in four events during her rookie campaign, and had a 15th-place finish of her own at the Towson Invitational in September. The Louisiana-native has impressed the coaches with her improvement over the summer, and will look to have a larger impact this season.
Freshmen
The Tribe’s three-player freshman class for 2012-13 is one of the most accomplished in school history, and will contribute immediately to the team’s efforts. The class includes Tina Chang, who won the New York state title as a senior by three strokes. She was also named the State Player of the Year in the Catholic Schools division, and played in numerous junior tour events.
Brooke LaRue was a two-time state champion in Kansas’ largest division, and finished second in her other two years. She has a best round of 68 (-4), and was twice named the Midwest Junior Tour Player of the Year. Alessandra Liu was a top junior player at Lower Merion HS in Pennsylvania, winning two junior tour events and reaching the championship portion of the Pennsylvania Women’s Amateur in 2010. She was also a talented ice hockey player, much like all-time Tribe great Brent Paladino ’09.
Seniors
W&M will be led this year by a pair of seniors, including top returner Betsy Birchall. Birchall ranked second on the team in 2011-12 with a 78.26 stroke average, and finished 19th at the CAA Championships. Already the school record-holder in one, two, and three-rounds, Birchall is also a two-time NGCA Scholar All-American. Katy Hutcherson enters her senior year looking to continue the improvement she began last season, when she averaged 82.31 strokes and had two top-25 finishes in six events. Over the summer, Hutcherson took part in the PureSilk National Team Championship, and her exposure to the very top levels of collegiate golf will prove a boon both to her own game as well as that of the team.
Sophomores
The Tribe has no juniors this season, but the sophomore class proved last year that they are ready to help carry the team to new heights. Kellie Edelblut was the most consistent performer in the class, averaging 79.59 strokes to rank fifth all-time among freshman at the College. Her six-over 222 at the ECU Intercollegiate was one of the top tournaments ever scored by a Tribe golfer, and she had two top-20 finishes on the season. Edelblut also played alongside Hutcherson at the National Team Championship this summer.
Kelly Okun also had a strong freshman campaign, improving into one of the team’s top golfers as the year progressed. Her breakout performance came at Kingsmill in March, when she was the only golfer in the entire field to break par with a second-round 70 (-1) en route to a 15th-place showing. She was also the Tribe’s top finisher at the CAA Championships, tying for 14th at +16. Anna McMullen averaged 81.45 strokes in four events during her rookie campaign, and had a 15th-place finish of her own at the Towson Invitational in September. The Louisiana-native has impressed the coaches with her improvement over the summer, and will look to have a larger impact this season.
Freshmen
The Tribe’s three-player freshman class for 2012-13 is one of the most accomplished in school history, and will contribute immediately to the team’s efforts. The class includes Tina Chang, who won the New York state title as a senior by three strokes. She was also named the State Player of the Year in the Catholic Schools division, and played in numerous junior tour events.
Brooke LaRue was a two-time state champion in Kansas’ largest division, and finished second in her other two years. She has a best round of 68 (-4), and was twice named the Midwest Junior Tour Player of the Year. Alessandra Liu was a top junior player at Lower Merion HS in Pennsylvania, winning two junior tour events and reaching the championship portion of the Pennsylvania Women’s Amateur in 2010. She was also a talented ice hockey player, much like all-time Tribe great Brent Paladino ’09.
