Women's Golf Fall Season Preview
Sep 12 | Women's Golf
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - With the fall season officially beginning this weekend, head coach Kari Williams and the Rutgers women's golf team prepare to open at home.
The 2016-17 team features four returning players, including senior Maddy Gedeon, juniors Emily Mills and Tatum Jackson, and sophomore Astrid Aneman. Three of the four enter the season with significant collegiate playing time to their advantage.
"We have a ton of experience coming back in Tatum and Emily and Astrid," said Williams. "They are in that place where they have to be better because the incoming classes are better."
Mills enters her second season as team captain coming off an excellent 2015-2016 campaign, recording a team-best average score of 75.57. Mills finished 3rd at the Nittany Lion Women's Invitational last September with a score 73-75-72. She competed in all ten events as a sophomore and is a Women's Golf Coaches Association Division I All-America Scholar along with Aneman.
In addition to the four returning players, the Scarlet Knights welcome four incoming golfers. The new members include three freshmen, Ana Maria Cortes, Megan Hou and Carrie-Ann Lee, as well as redshirt sophomore transfer Ashleigh Greenham. Cortes came in 1st place at the Campeonato Match Play at San Andres Golf Club in 2015, while Hou was a CIF Southern Section Champion in 2014-2015 and 2015-2016. Lee was a three time MVP at the Kent School in Connecticut, while Greenham was a three-time Essex Girls Champion before competing at Arizona State.
Despite her newcomer status, Greenham joined Mills and Aneman as 2016-17 Big Ten Conference Preseason Players to Watch.
"I've been really pleasantly surprised with the shape of their games coming in. They are only going to get better," said Williams.
The third-year head coach stresses the importance of creating a united team environment for her returning players and newcomers.
"I'm really pleased with how the team is starting to mesh and come together," Williams continued. "They all have really good work ethics."
The schedule begins in Piscataway at the annual Rutgers Invitational, September 16-17.
"We have our own course and host our own event," said Williams. "We should be very competitive at it, obviously, because it's at home. I am confident that they are going to bring their A game. I'm excited to see where that gets us."
The team then travels to State College, Pa. for the Nittany Lion Invitational, September 24-25 followed by The Johnie Imes Invitational in Columbia, Mo., October 3-4.
The women then head overseas to Waterville, Ireland, October 9-10 for a tournament. After returning to the States, RU will compete in the Lady Blue Hen Invitational in Rehoboth Beach, Del., October 22-23 and concludes the fall season in Macon Ga. at the Idle Invitational, October 31 and November 1.
Coach Williams and her team have been working hard this off season in preparation for this fall and intend to start the season off on the right foot at home this Friday.
Players Mentioned
