2004-05 Women's Golf Outlook

01/27/05 11:23PM

WILLIAMSBURG, VA - Tribe women’s golf faces heavy turnover as five seniors graduated at the end of the 2003 campaign, but a young group of talented underclassmen are ready to step up and build a strong future for the program. Head women’s coach Lisa Francisco assumed the day-to-day operation of the squad for the 2004-05 season after successfully leading the Tribe women to a third-place finish at the CAA Championship in 2004. With a talented freshman class, which has contributed immediately, joining several proven veterans, the team can overcome challenges and once again find success at the conference championship.

The lone senior on the squad, Alex Hill will be expected to step up and assume a leadership role on the team. A feel-type player, she has all the tools to become an all-conference performer. One of the longest hitters in the conference, Hill has the ability to go low, having carded her career low of 71 twice. A seasoned player who excels in big tournaments, Hill is a veteran of two CAA Championships, finishing in the top-20 in each, and also impressed by claiming ninth at the 2001 ECAC Championship as a freshman.

Junior Sayde Murray joins Hill as one of the team’s co-captains, and the junior aims to unlock the potential contained in her strong swing and solid iron play. A great qualifier, Murray has amazing accuracy which builds her confidence throughout rounds. A veteran of the 2003 CAA Championship, she brings a wealth of experience to the team.

Sophomore Melissa DePuy will also assume a pivotal role on the team. After a phenomenal rookie campaign, DePuy has stepped up to play at the No. 1 position all through the fall, and her game is still peaking to its full potential. Impressive in her debut at the CAA Championship, where she claimed 13th, she reeled off five consecutive top-35 finishes in the spring of 2004, with a high of 10th coming at the TPC Virginia Beach Invitational. DePuy boasts the lowest spring average among returnees (80.08) thanks to her level–headed play and, despite her age, she has matured to not let bad shots affect her entire round. With such a strong mental game, she should continue to progress through the spring as she sees courses for a second time and loses the indecision of a rookie.

Junior Pantipa Jinphiphadhana brings a rigorous work ethic and bright attitude to the game. With an excellent short game and strong putting, Jinphiphadhana has the chance to step up and contribute more regularly this season. The squad will miss junior Gwen Brink, a strong irons player, in the spring season as she studies abroad in Australia.
Sophomore Jackie Gallagher progressed greatly during her rookie campaign, which was highlighted by a 21st at the TPC Virginia Beach Invitational. Turning her game around in the spring, she has gained confidence and an even temperament that, combined with a sharper short game, will see her post low numbers.

Francisco welcomes a decorated incoming class that provides a strong base for the future of the program but which has already been thrown into the fire during the fall. Freshmen Misha Harvey and Erika Oldenkamp played all five fall tournaments for the Green and Gold and became consistent fixtures in the traveling five. Landing Harvey, the best junior player in Virginia, was a great coup for the program and she responded by firing a 75 in her first collegiate round to tie for a team-leading 10th at the Draper Valley Invitational. Winning the Virginia state title and the Spencer-Wilkinson Award (awarded by the VSGA to the state’s top female golfer) capped a phenomenal high school and junior career that saw Harvey win numerous junior tournaments and shoot 67 in high school play and 69 in junior play. Francisco believes the freshman has all the tools, both physically and mentally, to not only become a great college player, but to find success after college. She’s responded to the challenge of travel, as her rounds counted towards the team score 90.9% of the time. Oldenkamp, already one of the best ball-strikers on the team, is a tested player from the junior golf ranks where she learned to excel against fierce competition. She also brings championship credentials, having won a conference title and two sectional titles in high school. Francisco expects Oldenkamp to exploit the long par-4s and short par-5s as the freshman’s length will allow her to fire 7-woods and even 5-irons at greens when other players will be striking 3- & 5-woods. An accurate player as well, Oldenkamp saw her rounds count towards the team total 90.9% of the time and ended the fall by carding a 76 in the second round of the Ross Resorts Invitational.

Freshman Marissa Sprick traveled to the first two tournaments of the fall with a low of 80. Termed a “sleeper” by Francisco, Sprick could break back into the starting lineup at any moment as she is poised to put it all together for a round. A long player for her size, she also brings a keen mental approach to the game. A golfer who can go low, with a junior tournament best of 73, she carded 78-77 to win 2003 IJGT ChampionsGate tournament. Freshman Kara Siford is one of the team’s hardest workers and her inquisitive nature, always wanting to learn new shots and techniques, should lead to her contributing in the near future. She found success on the Titleist Junior Tour, winning the 2003 Spotswood Classic and qualifying for the Tour Championship four times in five years. Osbourn High School’s first and only female golfer, she played at No. 1 her senior season and was a two-time team MVP. Jen Jones is another long player for her size, which will help her adjust to the collegiate game. An accomplished high school golfer, she was a five-time low medalist in her senior season and as a co-captain led her team to a 17-3 record and a sectional championship.

With this combination of pedigreed newcomers combined with the talented veterans, tested at the conference championship, William and Mary should not miss a beat. Under the watchful eye of Francisco, the Tribe will maximize potential and again challenge at the CAA Championship.