The Lehigh women’s golf team is set to travel to Bucknell University for its final tournament of the season — the Patriot League Championship, a two-day, 54-hole event beginning Saturday.
The winner of the Patriot League Championship automatically advances to compete in NCAA Regionals. The team finished second to Boston University in last year’s championship and is looking to improve on that result by winning it all this year.
Six teams are participating in the tournament this year. Lehigh will be going up against Boston University, Bucknell, College of the Holy Cross, Navy and Richmond University.
Coach Judith Dwyer said she feels good about her team’s chances.
“I wouldn’t say we’re the favorite, but we definitely have a shot,” Dwyer said. “Boston University is up there, and Richmond is coming on strong.”
Strong showings at Bucknell, University of Delaware and Navy earlier in the season proved to Dwyer that her team has what it takes to win.
Lehigh is coming off of a second place finish in the four-team Navy Spring Tournament, held April 9-10 in Annapolis, Maryland. But in its prior spring tournaments, the team struggled, finishing 9th out of 14 in the Lady Eaglecat Invitational and 14th out of 19 in the William & Mary Intercollegiate.
Junior Lizzie McGarrigle putts on the green at the Saucon Valley Country Club on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015. In last year’s Patriot League Championship, Lehigh finished in second place behind Boston University. (Courtesy Lehigh Athletics)
The team spent this week fine-tuning its shots and working on its putting consistency, something the coaching staff has emphasized leading up to the tournament. The team was also given a free practice Monday to work individually on specific shots they thought needed improvement.
As Lehigh golf’s most important event of the season approaches, sophomore Megan Moylan maintains that nerves will not be a factor.
“Now is the time to relax and have fun when we get there,” she said.
Similarly, Dwyer emphasized her team was focusing on the mental side of the game and staying positive.
“No matter what happens out there, just take it stroke by stroke and stay in your pre-shot routine,” Dwyer said.
With so much importance given to each shot, gathering information, visualizing the shot and executing will be a focus for the Mountain Hawks. A proper pre-shot routine might make the difference.
The players also feel confident about playing at Bucknell’s course, which is where they’ll be playing the championship. The team played well at the Bucknell Golf Club earlier this year, finishing 4th out of 14 in an invitational tournament.
“We know the Bucknell course pretty well,” said sophomore Casey Farmer. “We’ve all played at least four rounds there.”
The Mountain Hawks will also look to draw on previous championship experience to guide them.
Four of the team members are returning players who have participated in the Patriot League Championship before, while two freshmen, Reagan Jahn and Aileen Jeong, are getting their first taste of championship experience.
Lehigh won the inaugural women’s Patriot League Championship in 2013 but hasn’t repeated the feat since. Senior Nicole Feierberg was a member of that championship team, winning Patriot League Outstanding Rookie of the Year that same season.
This will be her last opportunity at another championship with Lehigh.
Dwyer warned those who doubt Feierberg and the rest of her players, affirming Lehigh has a definite shot at winning this year.
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