Inside the Locker Room Match play with Captain Heather Gallagher

Author: James Kerrigan

Senior captain Heather Gallagher has led the Middlebury women's golf team to a candidate in the competition for most dominant team at the College.

A discussion of College athletic power rankings undoubtedly includes the women's golf team. In the golf world, winning back-to-back tournaments is an impressive feat. Tiger Woods, largely considered the best golfer in history, recently won his sixth consecutive tournament. The Panther squad is doing their best Tiger impersonation, as they have won five consecutive tournaments when those from last spring are included in the tally. What's more - they are winning by large margins.

The Toronto-born Gallagher is the only international golfer on both the men's and women's teams. Although the golf season is even shorter at home, she's found a way to work on her game. This season, Gallagher has an impressive 79.71 scoring average.

Her career will not be marked only by her personal acheivements, as she dedicates herself to being a good teammate in a sport typically dominated by individuals.

Who knows Gallagher better: her smooth swinging sophomore teammate Julie Ellenberger or her good friend and LaForce companion Susan Miranowski '07?

Golfers usually like to go low, but in this contest, the trophy is awarded to the contestant with the most points.

Miranowski came up just a fraction short in the match to determine who knows Gallagher best. In golf, a three inch putt counts as much as a 300-yard drive, but in Inside the Locker Room, a Big Bertha can make a big difference.

Miranowski knows that Gallagher uses Aveda shampoo, but apparently that is not good enough to qualify for Gallagher's dream round of golf.

Whether Gallagher raps "Ridin' Dirty" or not, Ellenberger distinguished herself as the queen of Gallagher trivia.

Gallagher has been all over the world to play golf (including a round at King's Barns in Scotland during a snow storm) but one of her fondest memories was right here at the Ralph Myhre. When the pace of play was a bit slow this preseason, the two grups of women's golfers joined forces and created a six-some. After they hit their drives (all down the middle) Gallagher remembers what a great feeling it was preparing to hit the approach shot with her teammates.

Gallagher has, and always will, put the team first.