As the last few inches of snow melt away, one West Chester athletics team is warming up after a long and cold few weeks without much practice. The West Chester women’s golf team has severely suffered the consequences of Mother Nature’s wrath since the first snowfall hit in early March. The Lady Rams’ official spring season started March 17, the end of the school’s spring break, but has since been delayed due to inclement weather. While the team can withstand temperatures in the low 40s during a quick practice round at Penn Oaks Country Club, the team cannot practice when the course is closed due to snowfall.
The women’s golf team, whose record was 5-1 last spring, was looking to come out swinging once their 2018 spring season began. The team’s season concluded in October with a tough loss to the Kutztown Bears at the PSAC championship. By just one stroke, the West Chester women’s golf team lost the conference tournament and their chance to make a debut at the Division II Women’s Golf Regional tournament. After a tough loss against their rival competitor, nothing sounded better than getting back on the course in the spring and tearing it up.
Before the worst of the nor’easters hit the East, the women’s golf team headed to North Carolina on their annual spring break trip. Over the spring break, the team successfully cometed at the two-day Browngolf Invitational held at the Country Club at Whispering Pines in North Carolina without any drastic weather interruptions or tournament cancellations. The team placed second overall with a total score of 664, losing the title to the girls from Merrimack College who shot a total score of 661. Although the Rams did not take home the trophy for a second year in a row, individually each golfer looked forward to coming back to West Chester and improving their game even more before their next tournament.
While there were a few scattered flurries during the week away, March 9 through 17, it was nothing compared to the snow that hit the area in the weeks to come. After two nor’easters and two cancelled tournaments, the women’s golf team was finally able to adjust their skills and begin their spring season the week of April 2. After nearly a month off due to inclement weather, the team felt both disappointed and set back in the midst of their “spring” season. “The purpose of our spring break was to get ready for the competition in this area,” said head coach Doug Hendricks. As most PSAC and northeastern teams on the East Coast suffered from the spring nor’easters, West Chester women’s golf head coach was especially disappointed with the recent “spring” weather. As unenjoyable as the last few weeks have been watching the snow melt, Coach Hendricks believes the sport will become quite enjoyable for his team soon: “this team has all the talent and ability to win the upcoming three golf events.”
Practice time for the Lady Rams has been slim, with soaking terrain and winter weather advisories that cancel practice at least once a week. This past week the sun has peeked through the clouds just enough for the girls to get back on the course to prepare for their upcoming events. Dominique Marchese, a junior, has felt that the team has been cooped up and frustrated with the recent weather. She said the team has been staying after practice on days when it’s nice to get a little practice in: “it’s all we can do, and hope that predictions of snow are no longer in the forecast.”
While snow has interrupted the golf team’s spring thus far, Mother Nature is looking to hold the storm for a few days as they approach their next event on April 8. The Lady Rams will travel to Moselem Spring Country Club, home of the revival Kutztown Golden Bears, with hopes of taking the trophy for a second year in a row. After a quick trip to Moselem Springs, the Rams will journey back to West Chester for two days of tournament golf at the Doctor Edwin Cottrell Invitational on April 9 and 10. This is the home event for the West Chester women and is held at the team’s home course Penn Oaks Country club. With a few good practice sessions leading up to the weekend, the Rams will look to take home two trophies despite being set back by bad weather.
Juliarose Genuardi is a third-year student majoring in economics and finance. ✉ JG843894@wcupa.edu.