Gallagher '07 was second in Massachusetts

Author: Simon Keyes

After stumbling out of the starting gates on April 14 at the Vassar College Invitational, the women's golf team seems to be regaining its Fall season form. The Panthers placed second in the Jack Leaman Women's Championship this past weekend in western Massachusetts.

The field was one of the most competitive fields the Panthers have seen all season, as it featured not only NESCAC rivals Amherst and Williams, but also six Division I teams, including eventual winner Boston College.

The biggest challenge during the weekend, however, may have been the courses, which showed signs of the late arriving Spring. The moist fairways, rough and greens made the courses play exceptionally long as shots would either land softly on the ground or plug into the earth. Fortunately for all the golfers, beautiful weather all weekend made the golfing quite pleasant.

The two-day tournament started on day one at the par-74 Hickory Ridge Golf Club, Amherst's home course. After the first 18, Middlebury found itself in second place behind only Boston College.

The day-one surge was led by Captain Heather Gallagher '07 who posted a 78. Karen Levin '08 was not far behind with an opening day 80. Rounding out the Panthers were Allison Ortega '07 (82), Julie Ellenberger '09 (87),and Kerry Ortega '07 (88).

"We bounced back nicely from our disastrous performance last weekend at Vassar and ended the day in second place only behind Div. I Boston College," wrote Kerry Ortega in an e-mail.

Day two was a special day for all the golfers as they were given the privilege of playing on the legendary golf course, The Orchards, host of the 2004 U.S. Women's Open. The course, a par-72, requires incredibly precise shot-making as it is ridden with hazards and false fronts on the greens.

Middlebury was up to the challenge, however, and fended off Williams by four strokes to secure second place with a team two-day total of 676 (+92). Boston College won the weekend with a combined 633 (+49).

Gallagher challenged The Orchards all day and finished the day at a notable four-over-par 76. Her two-day total of 154 (+8) gave her second overall in individual play, only two strokes back of Boston College's Katie Napleton.

"Heather had a fantastic round, shooting 76," wrote Kerry Ortega. "It was especially impressive because we were on a difficult course that played really long because it was wet."

Besides Gallagher, the rest of the Panthers finished no lower than 40th overall. Levin finished tied for 15th with a 168 (+22), Kerry Ortega finished tied for 26th with a 177 (+31), and her sister Allison posted a 180 (+34), good for a share of 35th overall. Ellenberger rounded out the team tied for 40th with a 183 (+37).

Next weekend, the team will continue to enjoy playing on another well-known course when it travels to Williams College's Taconic Golf Course for the Williams Coed Classic on April 28-29.