Friday, August 18, 2000
Cincinnati girls golf preview
No. 1 Ursuline out to defend state title
By Dave Schutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Most coaches look at the No. 1 preseason ranking as the “kiss of death.” Marianne Sahms, coach of the defending state champion Ursuline girls golf team, is the exception.
“I think we should get the nod to start off until someone beats us,” Sahms said. “We lost Carrie Farnham and Jennifer Clarke (graduated) but Erin McAfee, Amy Stansel and Jenny Salmon are back.”
Although Ursuline wasn't the unanimous choice, the Lions outpointed St. Ursula for the No. 1 spot with Lakota West, Wilmington and Mount Notre Dame rounding out the top five.
Over all, it appears that parity will reign with any of seven or eight teams given a chance to make a run at The Enquirer's poll championship.
Here's a look at the Top 10 teams as voted on by the coaches.
1. Ursuline: Although the Lions have three solid returning starters to build on, Sahms will rely on three untested golfers to carry some of the load.
“We have nine players on the team and five are freshmen,” Sahms said. “Right now it looks like three freshman (Allison Mayborg, Savanah Hill and Kristina Suntay) will start.”
During the summer tryout sessions, it appeared that Sahms would have more than 25 golfers to chose from but that number dropped significantly.
“I guess a lot of the girls saw on their own they wouldn't make the team and didn't come back,” Sahms, a teaching professional at O'Bannon Creek, said. “We'll find out how good a coach I am.”
2. St. Ursula: Senior leadership will be one of the strengths of a Bulldog team that lost Jane Wurzelbacher and Katie Gilligan to graduation.
“We've got some people on the team this year who haven't had a chance to play in the past,” St. Ursula coach Tony Kountz said. “It's difficult picking the last three spots.”
Returning starters Molly Smythe, Mimi Kelly and Lindsay Stallings will be the mainstays with Alison Dempsy (cq), Sarah Herman, Mary Pittman, Amy Rogers and Jodi Ruger battling for starting spots.
“Most of the girls played a lot of golf this summer,” Kountz said. “This time of year the girls short game is weak. They just don't practice putting and chipping as much as they should.”
3. Lakota West: Year-after-year, 15-year veteran Firebird coach Bev Lyon fields a competitive team and this season won't be the exception.
In fact, two area coaches voted Lakota West No. 1 in the preseason poll based on the return of four starters including Ana Brown, Abby Smardon, Ashley Williams, Heidi Worpenberg and Ashley Welker.
Based on the performances by Brown, Williams, Welker and Worpenberg in summer tournaments, the Firebirds may turn out to be the team to beat when the sectional tournament is played in October.
4. Wilmington: The Hurricanes not only have one of the best players in Ohio, Gabby Wedding, but also four other returning starters to build around.
The medalist at last year's state tournament, Wedding won several national tournaments during the summer and appear ready to make another run at state medalist honors.
“Gabby was upset at shooting a 36 during a practice round at Snow Hill,” Wilmington coach Donna Seeger said. “She doesn't let up on herself is is always trying to improve.”
Besides Wedding, Seeger will rely on the Likins sisters, Katie and Maggie, along with Stephanie Stewart, Deidre Robison, Suzi Conley, Lauren Holmer, Tracy Peterson and Christina Garrison.
5. Mount Notre Dame: Experience and talent are the best words to describe a Cougar team that several coaches indicated may be underrated.
First-year coach Grayson Fitzhugh inherited a team that went 19-5 in 1999 and returns five of the six starters including Lindsey Herb, Kelly Kaiser, Holly Jones, Angela Santel and Nikki Stroeer (cq).
However, there is a possible dark cloud on the horizon.
“Lindsey Herb, our No. 1 player, has been plagued by a back injury sustained in May,” Fitzhugh said. “Whether she is completely healthy is a larger factor.”
The Cougars will also rely on two freshmen, Rachel Quinlan-Waters and Nicole Rosati, players who were outstanding during summer age-group tournaments.
6. McAuley: The Mohawks are a team to watch with six-of-eight returning including Amy burke, a senior who was medalist six times during the 1999 season.
Third year coach Ernie Petri will also rely heavily on seniors Genna Giesken, Jill Bowman and Jenny Pfeiffer, along with junior Lindsey Fisher.
“We need the number two to six golfers to lower their scores from the 50 range to the 40's,” Petri said. “We have depth and several players from the reserve team that was 11-4 last year.”
7. Mercy: First year coach Amy Ellert inherited an experienced team and one with the potential to challenge for the No. 1 spot in The Enquirer's poll.
“We lost only one golfer (Teela Meyers) and have five seniors and two juniors back,” Ellert said. “I expect out captains (Lara Mendel and Erin Mullen) and Beth Michels to lead us.”
All of Mercy's golfers participated in summer tournaments which is another plus for a team that has gone 11-11 the past two seasons.
“We expect to be a lot better,” Ellert said. “We have a lot of experience and the girls are very confident. This should be a great season.”
8. Lebanon: There's good reason why coach Pam Russell's Warriors are ranked in the Top 10.
Besides returning standouts Nancy Bowling and Ashley Moore, Lebanon also has four other returning starters including Sarah Vendt, Stefanie LeVan, Ashley Ball and Ashley Johnson.
9. Seton: First year coach Dan Buetsche inherited an experienced team that lacks depth.
Junior Lindsey Oldiges and senior Julie Heintz will be the mainstays but the success of the team depends on several untested underclassmen who must step up.
10. Sycamore: The Aviators are a team on the bubble.
If coach Keith Brackenridge finds several golfers to fill the No. 5 and 6 spots, Sycamore could make waves in the tough Greater Miami Conference.
Senior Brieann Wade will anchor a team that also consists of returning starters Ashley Boehm and Stephanie Weger and freshman Mandy Weger.
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