Women's Golf Preview: Spiders Look To Mix Returnees With Youth Movement In 2006-07
09/05/2006 | Women's Golf
Sept. 5, 2006
PRE-SEASON PRACTICE PHOTO GALLERY
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - The Richmond women's golf team will open the 2006-07 season on Monday and Tuesday at the College of Charleston's Cougar Classic.
The Spiders graduated four seniors who were there from the beginning of the program four years ago, but Richmond has three players back from their third-place finish at the Colonial Athletic Association Championship and add a solid group of freshmen for the 2006-07 season.
"We graduated four seniors who leave behind a big hole, but I'm optimistic that the ladies will work hard to fill that gap," second-year head coach Leighann Rastede Albaugh said.
The Spiders play a challenging schedule that has them playing at Pinehurst No. 8 and hosting the first Spider Fall Invitational at Virginia Crossings as preparation for the 2007 CAA Championships at The Homestead.
"We have a great schedule, including the Spider Fall Invitational which we will definitely be looking to win," Rastede Albaugh said.
The Spiders have placed in the top four in all four CAA Championships and will be looking to improve upon their third-place finish in 2006.
"We would like to better our finish in the CAA Championship," Rastede Albaugh said. "While we're happy with finishing third, we're looking to improve that finish with a victory."
Richmond will be led by senior captain Ashley Lambert, a two-time second-team All-Colonial Athletic Association selection. Lambert was one of two players on the team to compete in all 11 events in 2006-07 with two top-10 finishes at the Peggy Kirk Bell Invitational (6th) and the Lady Seahawk Invitational (t-8th).
"Ashley played a strong summer schedule and it seems like she is in a great place with both her mental and physical game," Rastede Albaugh said. "We look for her to take a strong leadership role with the underclassmen."
Lambert is one of just two seniors on the team and the other is newcomer Meghan Wolfgram, who joins the women's golf team after earning all-conference honors three times in women's tennis. Wolfgram helped the Spider women's tennis team to three conference championships and NCAA berths, and after using up her four years of eligibility on the tennis court, she will shift to the golf course this year.
"After four years of playing solid tennis for the Spiders, we're looking for Meghan's senior leadership to help the freshman get acclimated, as well as gain her valuable two-sport experience," Rastede Albaugh said.
Junior Alex Latimer finished up the 2005-06 season strong by tying for 23rd at the 2006 CAA Championship.
"Ally had a great finish last year at the CAA Championship with a 79 in the last round and she will continue to make improvement," Rastede Albaugh said. "She's along the path to be a consistent performer on the travel team."
The Spiders are a very young squad with two sophomores and four freshmen. Sophomore Rosario Germino competed in all 11 events as a freshman in 2005-06 and ranked third on the team with a 78.4 scoring average. She had a season-best finish at the Princeton Invitational, taking fifth, and shot a season-low 54-hole score of 226 (77-74-75) at the Taco Bell Intercollegiate.
"Rosario was a force last year for us, she had a great freshman year," Rastede Albaugh said. "After going home to Argentina this summer and spending time with her coach, we're looking for her to come back with another strong year both academically and athletically."
Sophomore Julia Nouss only played in one tournament last year because of an injury. She did shoot a 74 in the first round of her only tournament, the Cougar Classic.
"Julia's going through rehab and we're looking for her to be back by the end of the fall or the beginning of the spring," Rastede Albaugh. "She's young, but she is a leader. She's the type of person you want to be around. What she didn't do playing last year, she more than made up for in helping me hosting recruits on campus."
Freshman Victoria Kidder qualified for the 2006 U.S. Women's Amateur and had a standout high school career at Noble & Greenough School in Boston, Mass.
"Victoria has had a great junior career and we're looking for her to step in right away and be a consistent contributor," Rastede Albaugh said.
Freshmen Lauren Folgosa, the sister of former Spider women's golfer Kristen Folgosa, comes to Richmond after finishing in the top-four at the Georgia Region AAAA Championships in all four years of high school and leading Woodward Academy to three-straight state titles.
Freshman Anne Sprick also has a wealth of tournament experience.
"We look for both Lauren and Anne to be contenders for a spot in the lineup right away," Rastede Albaugh said.
Freshman Sarah Dinces was a three-time All-Emerald City League honoree from Gig Harbor, Wash. She finished 10th at the Washington State Championship in 2006 and took 13th in 2005.
"We look for her to grow a lot as a player and I look forward to have the opportunity to work with her as she looks to improve her game," Rastede Albaugh said.