Two sophomores have been making an impact on the course for the women's golf team so far this season.
Megan Tenhundfeld and Karlie Zabrosky have earned their spot in the starting lineup for the Pirates, and have held onto those spots for two straight tournaments.
Tenhundfeld struggled a bit to start the year, but in both tournaments she fired back in the third round to help her score.
At Princeton last weekend, Tenhudfeld shot an 87 and an 84 in the first two rounds of the par- 72 tournament, but pulled it together in the third to shoot a 78.
"I let a really bad first round get to me in the second round," Tenhundfeld said.
Junior Ali Kruse said that Tenhundfeld is on the brink of a special performance on the course.
"She's so close," Kruse said. "She's going to come out firing. I can't wait for it to happen."
Zabrosky has seen some early-season success. At the Bucknell Invitational, two weeks ago, Zabrosky shot a 3-over-par 73 in the third round, which was her best round of collegiate golf.
Kruse said that Zabrosky's game has improved tremendously from the end of the last season, specifically noting the sophomore's work over the summer.
"I caddied for Karlie over the summer," Kruse said. "I was beyond impressed with the leaps she's made in her game in a month of not playing with her."
Head coach Sara Doell said that Zabrosky maintains her composure on the course and is able to make the best of her situation.
"Karlie's a player that can figure out a way to get it done," Doell said after the team's performance at the Bucknell Invitational. "It may not be pretty, but she gets it done."
Tenhundfeld said that the two sophomores worked together over the summer, competing in four tournaments over the summer.
"We're really close," she said. "(Zabrosky) lives in Pennsylvania, and I live in Ohio. We played in four of the same tournaments, and I caddied for her too."
Doell said that she's "proud" of the sophomores' progression during their first year, and looks forward to their future on the team.
"We have a good camaraderie amongst the team," Doell said. "A huge part was the summer progress that got them to step right in."
Zabrosky said that she has been working hard this summer as well, and that although she's a sophomore there is no added pressure to stay in the lineup.
Despite her rocky start, Tenhundfeld is confident about the team's upcoming performance this weekend.
"Next weekend is going to be better than last," she said.
The Pirates will head to the Yale Women's Intercollegiate Tournament in New Haven, Connecticut beginning on Friday.
T.J. Brennan can be reached at thomas.brennan@student.shu.edu.
