Women’s Golf Enters 2008 Season With Hopes of Winning Ivy Title

After finishing second in the Ivy League last season, the women’s golf team has only high expectations for the upcoming year. This season’s veteran squad is comprised of many returning players and two new faces, freshmen Robin Lee and Lynda Kwon, who could help the Lions grasp the league title. Lee and Kwon earned numerous accolades at the high school level and bring more power to the Light Blue. In fact, Lee will be traveling as an individual player in the tournament and is expected to help the team achieve victory.

Returning as head coach for her second season, Kari Williams is optimistic about what her team can accomplish.

“We are hoping to do one better and win the Ivy Championship this year,” she said. “We have a very good, strong team with a lot of playing experience under our belt.”
After winning the Ancient Eight for the first time two years ago, Columbia believes it can once again reclaim its title from the current champions, Harvard. The fall season will serve as preparation for the spring, when the Lions will play in the bulk of their tournaments and compete against the rest of the Ivy League.

Despite the fact that the team had few opportunities to practice over the summer, Williams believes that its cohesive nature and goals will lead to a successful season.
“We have a lot of goals, both team and individual, that will help us grasp the final goal of getting the Ivy Championship and eventually playing at the NCAA,” she said.
The Lions finished the 2007 season ranked 20th in the NCAA. This season, they have another opportunity to put their mark on the rankings.

The Light Blue will kick off its season this weekend at Penn State’s Nittany Lion Invitational in Happy Valley, Penn. The tournament will act as a showcase for the Columbia’s exploding potential, and according to Williams, the team has great hopes for “a top-three finish.” There are 12 teams competing in total, including Yale, Rutgers, Boston College, and Ball State.

The tournament begins with 36 holes on Saturday, and tee time is at 8:30 a.m. Following Saturday’s action, the Lions will play 18 holes on Sunday beginning at 7:30 a.m.