Women's Golf: Date with destiny on Long Island

COURTESY SPORTS PUBLICITY OFFICE/YH Ilona Paulin, TD '98, keeps her head down.

Last year, the Yale women's golf team captured the Ivy League championship in style, winning by a resounding 38 strokes and ending the season as one of the top teams in the Northeast.

This year's golfers distinguished themselves again this fall, winning the Yale Tournament and placing second at the ECACs. In doing so, they beat their main Ivy League rival, Princeton. Third-year captain Natalie Wong, MC '98, has played a major role in the team's success. "She is a natural leader, always in there with a good score," Annie Roller, ES '01, said.

The Bulldogs are led by first-year coach Heather Daly-Donofrio, BK '91, who is currently on the LPGA tour. After incredible success at Yale (she still holds the Yale course record of 69) and becoming the leading money winner on the Futures Professional Golf Tour, she turned to coaching. "As someone who competes herself, she is great at teaching us how to compete," Rachel Brakeman, JE '99, said. Daly-Donofrio took over from coach Amy Huether, who turned a mediocre team into Ivy League titleists in
three years.

The golfers prepared for the spring season in Tucson, Ariz. over spring break. Although they did not play in any tournaments, the women had a chance to shake off winter rustiness and develop technique. On Mon., Apr. 6 and Tues., Apr. 7, Yale competed in the Campbell Classic, the final tune-up for the Ivy League Championship. Although the Bulldogs finished sixth out of the 12 teams, they were encouraged by the results. "Though we didn't play up to our potential, we definitely made progress. We were competing against schools that have scholarships and can play year round," Brakeman said. The leading golfer for the Bulldogs was Charity Barras, MC '98, followed closely by Wong. This weekend, the women will accept nothing less than first place as they head to Bethpage on Long Island, NY for this year's Ivy League tournament on Fri., Apr. 17 and Sat., Apr. 18. Bethpage Country Club's Black course will be the site of the 2002 U.S. Open.

--David Goldenberg

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