Battling the elements and playing without an important leader, the women’s golf team finished second at the Princeton Invitational this weekend with a team score of 322 in the first round on Saturday and 319 in the second round on Sunday. Princeton finished first, shooting 300 on Saturday, 322 Sunday and finishing with the top two overall competitors. Cindy Shin ’07 was the leading scorer on the course Sunday, shooting a 2-over-par 74 and leading the Elis to shoot their best on a course ravaged by rain.
“[Saturday] Princeton came out really strong,” said January Romero ’06, who shot a 76 on Saturday and an 83 on Sunday to finish 12th overall. “We had a lot to make up and it was really hard to do it with the rain delays and the soggy course.”
Lauren Ressler ’06 said this tournament was a challenge because the Elis were without Stephanie Wei ’05, who has had to deal with a chronic back injury since her freshman year and is currently undergoing rehabilitation for the injury.
“She’s been an All-Ivy player and she is definitely a main contributor to the team,” Ressler said. “We are excited for when she is able to get back on the field.”
Ressler played well this weekend, shooting a 78 and an 80, tying Shin for ninth overall. Carmen Zimmer ’07 and Jessica Shapiro ’06 also competed in the tournament. Zimmer shot an 84 and an 82. Shapiro shot an 85 and an 86.
Shin shot an 84 on Saturday but was able to come back on Sunday with a 74. She attributed this change to a greater level of preparation and determination on Sunday.
“I was more focused [Sunday],” Shin said. “I definitely had a better feel of the course and it showed.”
The Bulldogs’ next competition will be this coming weekend at the Yale Invitational. It will provide the Bulldogs a rematch with the rival Tigers. With a challenging back nine holes on the home course, the Elis will have the advantage of familiarity.
“Yale has a unique course,” Ressler said. “Princeton normally doesn’t come to our tournament because they are very scared of our course.”
Romero said she feels confident that the Elis will win at home.
“It will be a great rematch and we feel comfortable that everyone on our team will play well,” Romero said.
The Elis were last year’s Ivy League champions and there is certainly pressure to repeat that victory. Princeton is perennially a strong competitor but the women feel that they will remain atop the Ancient Eight.
“We just have to know that if we work hard and focus on doing what we have done well in the past that we will win,” Ressler said.
For freshmen like Shin and Zimmer, there is the added pressure of proving themselves in a new competitive environment.
“There is a lot of pressure, but I try to look past it because I do not play well under pressure,” Shin said. “I try to focus on my game and that’s what is most important.”
If all of the Bulldogs can do this, the Yale Invitational on Oct. 4 and 5 could end with an important Eli victory.