Wake Forest Athletics
Dailey's Team Pushing Wake Toward Next Level
3/4/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
March 4, 2002
By Sam Walker
Coach Dianne Dailey leads a team with international flavor and parity into the 2002 season. This team, perhaps more than any other Dailey has pieced together, represents the growth of the Wake Forest women's golf program during her previous 13 years as head coach. This team, comprised of a nice distribution of proven upper classmen and talented newcomers is a team Dailey hopes will lead the Demon Deacons to a new level of success.
Wake has been a national player in women's golf over the last decade, and finished third nationally in the 1994-95 season. Wake has nine NCAA appearances over the last nine years but hasn't finished in the top 10 since the third-place finish. Last season the Deacons finished 14th in the Golfweek.com rankings, and Wake has consistently been a top-20 team over the last nine years. Dailey has coached five All-Americans, three Academic All-Americans, two ACC Players of the Year, two ACC Rookies of the Year and led Wake Forest to two ACC Championships. But becoming a top-10 team and winning a national championship are goals this team has set.
"We have a good solid program," Dailey said. "The next step is to win a national championship. We're trying to get the right people in place, the right team dynamics, and everyone is committed and wants to work hard.
"Everyone feels a part of the team, and that makes a huge difference. The people who don't make the traveling squad know they can make it the next time. So what happens is that they push each other and work harder because they want to play. But they don't begrudge the people who do make it. The team dynamic is healthier and more productive. It's a nice situation to be in. They understand that if they don't play well in qualifying then they don't get to travel. They're able to see they need to do what is best for the team."
Team chemistry is important, and one of the most unique aspects of collegiate golf is that although it is a team sport, each player plays alone. Thus, Dailey has experienced players who have been there and some newcomers who should add to the team's chemistry and contribute immediately.
Katie Brenny is one of the players who has been there. The senior finished second at the ACC Championships in Buena Vista, Fla., last year. During the fall season, she competed in all four tournaments with her best finish coming at the ACC/SEC Shootout where she tied for 30th.
"Katie is one who usually qualifies, and she is a good solid player," Dailey said. "Her strengths are her long game, and when she gets it going she can shoot very low scores. She's a strong leader for us, and she's played almost every tournament she's been eligible to play in since her freshman year."
Two other seniors, Camille Lee and Veronica Prado-Lacoste provide leadership. Lee may need some time to work her game back into shape after taking time off to study in Europe over the summer. Conversely, Prado-Lacoste earned a fifth-place finish at the Prix Golf Chantaco/La Nivelle and a first in doubles at the Prix Thionde la Chaume.
"Camille hasn't played in a tournament in almost two years but has the game to play very well," Dailey said. "She has good length and is always right at the door. Veronica has really improved her game, and I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't break into the lineup for a tournament we play. She contributes through her good attitude and support."
Bolstering the lineup are juniors Maria Beautell and Nuria Clau. The two former Spanish Amateur champions are talented and experienced. Clau is an Academic All-American who was nominated for the 2002 Socrates Award, an award annually given to the college athlete who best exemplifies excellence in athletics and academics. Clau had three top-10 and three top-20 finishes last season and won the Spanish Junior International and Grand Prix of Chiberto tournaments over the summer. Beautell's top finish over the fall was 16th at the Lady Paladin Invite.
"Nuria is the No. 1 player on the team and has come into her own this year and has her sights set on trying to be an All-American," Dailey said. "I would be very surprised if she wasn't an Academic All-American. She works hard and has just gotten better and better each year. She's very consistent. Maria has been in a little but of a slump, but is working hard, and we expect her to be contributing, and I look for her to be in our starting lineup here soon."
Caroline Stetler, a junior, placed 13th in the fall at the ACC/SEC Shootout, and her course management and short-game improvements have placed her into the starting rotation. Sophomore Deborah Means placed 10th at the ACC Championships last year and was fourth at the Lady Paladin Invite in the fall. Dailey says she has improved her stroke average by five shots and played No. 2 most of the fall.
Ashley Hoagland, a talented freshman who was ranked 30th nationally, could compete for a starting spot. She has recovered from an elbow injury sustained in the fall, and Dailey says she is very capable of shooting par or better. "She's a solid player who really doesn't have any weaknesses," Dailey said.
Christine Hallstrom, who played as a member of the Swedish International Team, played in two fall tournaments, and Dailey expected her to be able to contribute in her first season at Wake. Lesley Jamieson's grandfather, Dick Tiddy, is in the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame, so she is continuing the tradition of golf in her family. Jamieson comes in with the potential to be really good. Dailey said she might not play this year but has made a lot of progress since the fall.
The 2002 schedule gives the Deacons a chance to play against the best and all over the United States. Wake finished ninth at the TRW Regional Challenge played Feb. 11-13 in Los Angeles. "We played well the first two days and then the third day everybody had a bad day except Nuria," Dailey said. "But now they know how close they can be to the top-ranked teams, and basically the top 18 of 20 teams were there. I learned they can compete on the highest level. We need to work on our short games and think they realized that too. We need to break into the top 10 before we get to the NCAAs, and that will give us the confidence to get to nationals and do well there."
Wake hopes to finish out the season on the West Coast at the NCAA Championships in Seattle, Wash. Dailey feels this year's squad is deep and capable of shooting scores in the low 70s. The best players play, so Dailey will be watching her team closely to see who is playing well from week to week. And should several team members play well at the same time, the sky is the limit for the 2002 Deacons.
