Gold Rush: Homeward Bound
3/10/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
March 10, 2003
By Jay Reddick
The Wake Forest women's golf team will start its season miles away from chilly North Carolina, under the warmth of the Puerto Rican sun. But in the end, all the team wants to do is bring it home.
The Deacons, who finished the fall on a high note with a fourth-place finish at the Landfall Tradition in Wilmington, will play three of a possible seven spring tournaments in the Triad, including the ACC Championships and NCAA Regionals at Salem Glen Country Club in Clemmons.
Coach Dianne Dailey's bunch, though, is the sort that could challenge for high finishes no matter the venue. Senior Nuria Clau, who was the individual medalist at Landfall and had two other top-10 finishes, is on top of her game and will lead the team into the spring schedule.
"She is our mainstay this year," Dailey said. "Having that win (at Landfall) boosted her confidence. It had been a goal she had for a while, and it put her on track for All-American consideration."
Clau's inclusion on the World Cup team, representing her native Spain, was another big step for her.
"Her team finished third, one shot away from winning," Dailey said. "That got her psyched and ready to play."
The group of players behind Clau has the advantage of experience - a total of seven players teed it up in fall tournaments - but no one has stepped up to consistently challenge Clau's dominance.
Sophomore Ashley Hoagland was the only other Deacon to play all four fall events. Her 13-over-par 229 at the Women's NCAA Fall Preview in September led the team, and she cracked the top 20 twice but never broke into the top 10, an omission she hopes to rectify.
"Ashley was disappointed in her fall season despite some solid play," Dailey said. "She's worked hard to come back to form, and she has the ability to do it."
Maria Beautell also hopes to find consistency as she completes her senior season. She managed an even-par 72 in one competitive round this fall but also posted an 80. Dailey hopes to see some more par - or better - scores from her.
"She has the ability to go low, very low," Dailey said. "It's just a matter of getting her a little more consistent, so she can finish on a high note."
Junior Deborah Means was on the way to her best round of the fall on Oct. 5 at the Lady Tar Heel Invitational when something went wrong. Means tore a ligament in her wrist on about the ninth hole. She had surgery the next week and was lost for the remainder of the fall.
Two good things came out of the experience: Means completed the round, proving her toughness and selflessness, and she'll be ready when the spring season tees off.
"Deb has always been a tough player mentally, but she really showed me something when she got hurt, playing nine more holes," Dailey said. "She said she didn't want to let her team down, and we needed the round.
"She's playing well for us. She was very diligent and conscientious about her rehab. She really wants to play, and she will be right back where she was."
Julie McKenna was the only freshman to crack the fall lineup, averaging 81.22 shots per round in three events. Dailey said that improvements to her finesse game will make her into a more complete player.
"I've been very pleased with her progress," Dailey said. "She's a very strong physical player who can hit it a long way. We've been working on her consistency, but with her strength and willingness to learn, she'll be a contributor."
Christine Hallstrom proved to be a pleasant surprise at the end of the fall. After Means got hurt, the sophomore stepped in and tied for 12th at the Landfall, including a team-season-best-tying score of 71 in the second round. Senior Caroline Stetler played in two early events, a number that should rise this spring.
"Overall, we have six or seven strong players with good experience," Dailey said. "It's a nice thing to have."
The Deacons have become accustomed to finishing in the top third of elite tournament fields, but they only managed that once this fall. Still, that taste of success has fed their work ethic all winter.
"We started off slow," Dailey said. "To be in contention the last day at Landfall, when we hadn't been there for a while, gave the players a sense that we can do this. They want that position again."
The season begins Feb. 28 at the Lady Puerto Rico Invitational. Besides the two postseason events in Winston-Salem, Wake Forest also will return to the Bryan National Collegiate in Browns Summit, which will include nine of the nation's current top 20 teams.
"This year provides a very unique opportunity to see the players play in the area," Dailey said. "It means a lot for the students to have folks out there for them, and we're looking forward to it."
The Deacs will get a good look at their competition for national honors, as they are in fields with powerhouses Duke and Auburn in almost every tournament. Don't be surprised to see WFU beat them once or twice, or consistently.
"They're working harder than they've ever worked," Dailey said. "They realize they have the potential to be a top team."
Players Mentioned
