COURTESY SPORTS PUBLICITY The women's golf team regained its position of league dominance.

Women's golf retakes the Ivy championship

The women's golf team has done it again. After a one-year hiatus from the top of the Ivy League golf world, the Bulldogs returned to their familiar position as league champions last weekend in an impressive victory over rival Princeton. After defeating the Tigers, last year's league champ, by a 10-stroke margin, the Elis claimed their third title in four years.

Led by individual champion Sarah Seo, TD '02, who posted a two-day score of 153, the Elis had four golfers in the top 10. Besides Seo, Chawwadee Rompothong, TC '00, finished fourth, and Annie Scholz, DC '02, was seventh. All three received first team All-Ivy nods. Rounding out the Eli scoring were Jennifer Schriefer, DC '02, in a tie for eighth, and Jordanna Davis, ES '03, in a tie for 12th.

Entering the season finale, Yale and Princeton were the odds-on favorites. After two disappointing losses to Princeton, one in last year's Ivy League championship and another early this season, the Elis had built up considerable momentum heading into the weekend. "We really wanted to come out and play our best to take back the title," captain Emily Johnson, TD '00, said.

Yale rose to the occasion to take the championship away. Despite the strong finish, neither the team nor individual titles were secure until the final moments of the tournament.

After jumping out to a commanding 13-stroke lead on the first day, the Bulldogs lost some steam as Princeton began to chip away at their lead on day two. "We didn't play as well on the second day," Johnson said. "I didn't know we would win until the very end."

W. Golf

Record: 5 First place finishes Recent Results: First place, Ivy League Championship; First place, Boston College Invitational.

Seo's victory was also in question until the last minutes of play. Down by six strokes at the turn on day two, victory seemed improbable. However, Seo knew that if she could play solidly and stick to her own game, she would at least put herself and the team in the position to win. "I knew that things were shaky in terms of where we stood against Princeton," Seo said. "I knew that every stroke I saved would put more pressure on my opponent."

While Seo began to find her rhythm in the first holes of the back nine, her main competitor for the individual crown, Princeton's Adrienne Gill '01, began to falter. Seo parred the 10th, 11th, and 12th holes while Gill bogeyed them. Seo cut Gill's lead to three and the momentum shifted. Seo continued her charge to the last hole and ultimately beat Gill in a one-hole playoff for the title.

Despite the loss of three seniors, Yale should continue its success next year. With four top players returning and a talented group of incoming freshmen, the top spot promises to remain familiar territory.

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