Women's Golf Finishes Second at The Harvard Invitational
-By Jane Lee '12
The Harvard women's golf team finished the fall portion of their season at the inaugural Harvard Invitational played at The International in Bolton, Massachusetts. This event brought together all Ivy League women's golf teams for two days of competition on The International's beautiful Oaks Course. Because it was the first tournament hosted by Harvard, this weekend was particularly meaningful to the team and to the Harvard Golf Program. Thanks to all the spectators, hard-working volunteers, and amazing staff at The International for making this tournament such a success. And thanks also to captain emeritus Claire Sheldon '10 and Sarah Harvey '10 for making the trip to cheer their teammates on!
Friday's gloomy weather cleared up wonderfully for the first day of play, although the cold temperatures and gusty winds proved challenging for all players in the field. Despite these factors and the tricky layout of the course, Harvard turned in a solid first round score of 303. Leading the Crimson were senior captain Mia Kabasakalis and freshman Bonnie Hu with a pair of 75s. Close behind were freshman Fritzi Reuter and junior Katie Sylvan with 76 and 77, respectively. After a day of impressive play, Harvard sat in the lead, three strokes ahead of Yale.
Part of the goal of this tournament was to provide Ivy League players with the chance to get to know one another and as a result foster stronger relationships within the League. In the spirit of this objective, the team, with the aid of former teammate Sarah Harvey, hosted an ice cream social and towel-decorating contest after dinner. The social was a fun, relaxing addition to the schedule of events, and the presentation of each team's towel elicited a lot of laughter from the crowd. After the social, the Harvard women drove back to campus, ready to get some rest in preparation for the second day of play.
Sunday's weather was much milder and the wind not as strong. With only a three-stroke lead, the Crimson knew they had to turn in another strong score in order to retain their advantage. Sadly, it was not to be, although the team came very close to victory. Bonnie Hu led the Crimson with a stellar one-over-par score of 73, which put her in second place for individual standings. After an uncharacteristic first round score of 84, junior Christine Cho returned in fine form with a second round 76. Captain Mia Kabasakalis turned in a 79, Fritzi Reuter an 80, and Katie Sylvan rounded out the group with an 81. Although the first round score was excellent and the second round score was not so high to close off all chance of winning, Yale finished exceptionally strong with three 79s and a spectacular 66 by freshman Seo Hee Moon, for a two-day total of 609 to H! arvard's 611.
Despite the disappointing loss, the team is, as Coach Kevin Rhoads has said, trending in the right direction. The level of play that the team members are exhibiting now is much sharper than it was at the beginning of the season. There is so much potential in the team, and they look forward to capitalizing on this potential when the spring arrives.
Meanwhile, the Crimson will work hard to improve their games through indoor practice and conditioning during the winter. The uncharacteristically winless fall season will only add fuel and determination as the team looks forward to the spring and the Ivy Championships.
Yardage: 6082 6138 Daily Leader Both
Fin Team Scores
1 Yale
University
306 303
609 +33
2 Harvard
University 303
308 611 +35
3 Pennsylvania, Univ 323
302 625 +49
4 Princeton University 320
308 628 +52
5 Brown University
331 321 652
+76
6 Dartmouth College
340 314 654
+78
7 Columbia
University 328
327 655 +79
Fin Name
School
Scores
2 Bonnie
Hu
Harvard 75
73 148 +4
9 Mia
Kabasakalis
Harvard 75
79 154 +10
T 10 Friederike
Reuter
Harvard 76
80 156 +
T 13 Katie
Sylvan
Harvard 77
81 158 +14
T 19 Christine
Cho
Harvard 84
76 160 +16
