Women's golf team finally at full strength

Rick Crossin
Sports Editor

To say that this is a rebuilding year for the SIUE women's golf team would be a gross understatement.

Of the eight members of the team, six are incoming freshmen. Junior Spring Riley is the only upperlcassmen in the team.

"I would say this might be the official start to the program," head coach Larry Bennett said. "Not to underestimate what we've done in the past, but this is first year we're going to have strong enough numbers to get this program in gear."

This is the third year of existence for the SIUE women's golf program, and Riley is the only original recruiting member left on the team.

The new members of the 2000 squad include Brittany Auld from Nashville, Ashley Collum from Iuka, Katie Farrell from Princeton, Kacy Grunkenmeyer from Salem, Beth Gumbel from Mohmet and Kristi Novak from Highland.

The x-factor for SIUE this year may be transfer Nonie Ehlke. Ehlke transferred from Rend Lake College this year and is the only incoming player with any college experience.

For Bennett, this past off-season was the first time he has gotten a chance to recruit for the team.

"The first year I was hired ,the recruiting season was over and the second year, we thought all the girls were coming back, so I didn't really go out and recruit,"Bennett said.

This recruiting year, Bennett has stayed within the Southern Illinois region to recruit all his players.

"We're a Southern Illinois team all the way," Bennett said.

Last season was a tough one for Bennett and the Lady Cougars. In the spring season, Bennett lost one player to injury and another to student teaching, which forced SIUE to play individually, rather than as a team.

Also, only two players - Riley and Sarah Williams - competed in every event.

Making a solid prediction for the season is going to be difficult for Bennett, considering 75 percent of his team are freshmen.

"I've got to cautiously optimistic," Bennett said. "It's a big step for a freshman to just come in and start college, let alone have to begin to play golf immediately."

Adjusting to college life is going to be something the freshmen on the team are going to have to get used to as well.

"With school and all of them living on campus and moving away from home, it's going to be a tough adjustment," Bennett said. "I don't want any pressure on them at all. They're freshmen, they need to get adjusted to campus life first and then a year from now we'll see where they're at and go from there."

The fall season for SIUE will start on Sept. 1 with the Kentucky Wesleyan Invitational in Owensboro, Ky.

SIUE will then travel to Normal, Romoeville, Indianapolis, Ind., and Columbus, Ind., before playing at home.

The Lady Cougars will not play on their home turf until the last match of the fall season in the Lady Cougar Classic at Spencer T.Olin Golf Course.