For the second straight year, the West Chester University women’s golf team participated in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championships held at the Wren Dale Golf Club in Hershey, PA, on Oct 15 and 16. Senior Jenn Griffin led the team with scores of 84 and 92 in two rounds of play and finished in fourth place among all women competitors. The championship event proved to be a great learning experience for a program only in its third year of existence. In addition to Griffin, the team consists of senior Dana Nagele and junior Reghan Merciades. Nagele, with only two years of golf experience, played well enough to finish 12th in the women’s field. Merciades did not participate in the event. “The championship was a lot of fun because it is a three day event with practice rounds on Friday and then the tournament on Saturday and Sunday,” said Griffin. “This year we not only had to deal with competition, but also the wind. With gusts up to 40 miles per hour on some days, it made club selection a little difficult.” The future looks very bright for the Golden Rams as they take steps in building a winning foundation.
“We are still very young,” said Griffin. “However, we are on the verge of expansion with many recruits showing interest in coming to our program next year.” Griffin hopes the program will assemble a team that will be in many tournaments within the next few years. “I think over the next couple of years, our team will be a force to be reckoned with in the PSAC,” she said.
WCU students interested in playing for the women’s golf team should contact the athletic office for more information. Griffin has been a constant for the women’s team the last two seasons. In the Kutztown University 2005 Spring Invitational, she finished in 12th place among a women’s field of 24 players. Mike Thompson returns for his second season as the head coach of the women’s team. Thompson has spent over 25 years in golf as a player, coach and instructor.
The PSAC Championships was the only invitation the women’s golf program will receive this fall. However, the team will be on the course again this spring to participate in several tournaments.