ETSU women's golf set to open season next week

Ringdahl

Friday, September 14, 2007

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Sept. 14, 2007) - Each year it seems the ETSU women's golf team sets new records and makes history. The 2006-07 season was no different, and Buccaneers' head coach Stefanie Reynolds Shelton believes there is even more to come in 2007-08.

"Coming off of our most successful year without losing anybody to graduation has really set a positive tone this year," said Reynolds Shelton, whose team opens the new season Monday at the Napa River Grill Cardinal Cup in Simpsonville, Ky. "We are already entering this school year with the most determination and competitive enthusiasm since I have been here at ETSU. There is a familiar team drive that we have carried over from last year and hope to build upon for better things this year."

Led by sophomore Laura Jansone (Jurmala, Latvia), the Bucs return their top six players from last year - a group which won one team championship and finished second five times. Jansone was certainly the team's top player a year ago, becoming the first ETSU woman to win an outright individual championship with a victory at the Lady Pirate Invitational, and finishing Top 10 seven times. Jansone ended the year with the team's lowest stroke average at 75.5 and tied the school record with a low round of 69.

Along with Janson, the Bucs return several talented and experienced players, including seniors Natalia Giraldo (Cali, Colombia) and Maria Ringdahl (Oland, Sweden), as well as junior Lucy Gould (Bargoed, Wales). Giraldo and Ringdahl have been four year contributors to the squad the two finished third and fourth, respectively, in stroke average a year ago. Meanwhile, Gould has also played a significant role on the team for the last two years and looks to improve this season.

In the sophomore class, Jansone is joined by Sinead O'Sullivan (Galway, Ireland) and Kennie Leigh Eisenhower (Newport, Tenn.), both of whom saw significant playing time as sophomores and will be expected to contribute again this year. A year ago, O'Sullivan finished second in the team in stroke average at 76.8.

"We have a strong team of six returning players, led by our seniors Maria and Natalia," Reynolds said. "Laura is a fierce competitor who I believe will once again challenge for tournament titles all year."

For more on ETSU women's golf throughout the upcoming season, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the women's golf link.