Unlike other sports that compete multiple times a week and play many games over the course of the season, the women's golf team has only three tournaments -- three chances to prove itself.
Coach Francis Vaughn feels that the Quakers are ready to do just this coming off a spring break trip to Florida where they golfed every day on courses in West Palm Beach and Miami.
The team already saw some competition in the fall, participating in two tournaments.
According to senior captain Kim Thompson, the spring season is much tougher than the fall one because of the weather.
"There's not that much time to prepare outdoors," Thompson said. "We need to practice every day, and one missed day puts us behind."
Junior Stephanie Stamas agreed, saying that "it's difficult to go from hitting off a mat to hitting outdoors."
Aside from the weather, the team has had to cope with losing two big contributing seniors: Lauren Eveland and All-Ivy selection Melissa Aylor.
"Aylor was the cornerstone of the team," Vaughn said. "It's going to be tough for someone to fill her shoes."
Thompson doesn't necessarily think it's a negative situation; it will simply bring a different dynamic to the team.
"Now, it's more of a team effort, because last year we could count on them to come in with a good score," Thompson said. "Now, everyone needs to work on their game."
Vaughn is looking forward to working with a much younger team this year, one with plenty of potential.
He is looking towards the trio of Thompson, Stamas and sophomore Meg Bender to help fill in the vacancies left by the seniors. Bender paced the Quakers in each of their two fall tournaments.
Senior Megan Brady and freshman Nicole Kouch will round out the starting five.
As team captain, Thompson hopes to motivate Kouch, as well as her other teammates, to work on their concentration during practices and especially tournaments.
"It's hard to keep your focus for six hours," Thompson said. "We lose a lot of shots when we forget to focus on every single one."
The Quakers will participate in their first spring tournament this weekend down in Virginia at the William and Mary Invitational. Vaughn expects to see tough competition from Princeton and Yale.
"It's so much of a mental game though," Stamas said. "Anything can happen."
