Last season was one of uncertainty for Seton Hall women’s golf. With a roster made up of seven golfers, three of whom were freshmen, and no seniors, it seemed like a rebuilding year. However, the Pirates showed flashes of brilliance, finishing in the top five in three tournaments during the spring season, including second place at the Jack Rabbit Invitational on March 11.
This spring was a time for the team to build on that success. This season, the Pirates have everyone back from a year ago, with strong leadership in the three seniors. That carryover has lead to progress.
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Photo via SHU Athletics[/caption]
Last spring, the Pirates averaged a total score of 311.00 through five events. This spring, after three events, they are on pace to top that score, currently averaging 302.63.
Compared to zero wins last spring, the Pirates have already won two of their three spring events. The wins came in the Rio Verde Invitational on Feb. 25 and the Low Country Intercollegiate on March 18.
A marker of the team’s improvement as a whole is how the Pirates have improved individually from a year ago. Sammie Staudt has seen the biggest jump from last spring, averaging almost two strokes fewer. In spring 2017, Staudt averaged a 79.33, but this spring has been averaging a 77.70. As a sophomore, Staudt still has time to improve and lower her average further by her senior season.
Lizzie Win has also improved since last spring, when she shot an average of 77.50. This spring, Win has shot par or better in many rounds and currently is shooting an average of 76.30 through three tournaments.
Lastly are Maddie Sager and Macky Fouse, who have each taken a step up. Sager has improved from a 78.43 to a 77.70, while Fouse has cut off about half a shot on average, going from an 80.21 to a 79.80.
Still, the Pirates are a young team. Staudt, Sager and Win will be juniors next year, while Mia Kness and Gianna Tomeo will be back as well. If they can continue to improve, the Pirates could potentially collectively average below a 300.00 next season. Individually, the Pirates should improve as well.
With two wins already in 2018, the team has an opportunity to make a surge. The team has the Big East Tournament coming up on April 20 to 22, where if the Pirates can continue improving, they can make some noise for a Big East Championship.
Mat Mlodzinski can be reached at matthew.mlodzinski@student.shu.edu or on Twitter @Mlodzinski_15.
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