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Show ATHLETICS 5 Womens golf flies under the radar JANE JERMAN STAFF REPORTER " i'..:.1 Number one in the Frontier Conference, the womens golf team, comprised of three first-yestudents and one senior, has a chance to go to nationals this year. Ill be in class and tell my professor I have a golf tournament and they say, Oh, we have a golf team?" said Mari Hiitsi, senior sports management major. Yeah, we are actually ar - number one. Hiitsi is an international student from Estonia. She was given the Freshman of The Year award her first year and has the top individual score this year with a six stroke lead. She will also be representing Estonia this summer in the student Olympics hosted in South Korea. As the oldest on the team with four years of experience at Westminster, Hiitsi has taken on the role of captain and her teammates said they have all become very close. Were really lucky to have her on the team, said Audrey Kriss, first-yemarketing major and golfer. As freshmen not knowing what college golf entails, she helped us get into the swing of things. Not only has Hiitsi served as captain, she has also been a team organizer. The womens golf team shares its head coach with Westminsters ski team, and Hiitsi said that this arrangement has been in place since her first ar year. The first two years were tough, Hiitsi said. But I am psychologically so much stronger after figuring everything out on my own. In her customized major of sports management, Hiitsi has been able to apply lessons shes learned in class to her position as captain of the team. Theres a cool connection on leading the team and applying what Ive learned, Hiitsi said. I try to encourage them. Golf can be really stressful and really emotional. The team said that Hiitsi does more than just encourage. She managed to get the team weight training with Eldon Brough, the strength and conditioning coach on campus who is helping them build strength to improve their game. Theyre getting a lot stronger, Brough said of the team. Theyre very dedicated. Ashley Dechant, first-yefinance major, said that Hiitsi gives the team focus. They nicknamed her Mom at the beginning of the year. Were kind of goofballs when were together, Dechant said. One of the three first-yestudents is going to have to step up and take Maris spot. The Westminster womens golf team said they are much smaller and younger than other teams in the conference. ar ar mm mm Considering their first place lead, position with a this has not affected their game. No one really takes us seriously, Audrey Kriss said. But then we go out and beat some of the older girls. The home tournament is on April 13 and conference championships happen just two weeks later. The golfers said they are looking forward to the rest of the season. Although the sole senior is graduating, the first-yestudents, who are all in the top 15 individually, said they are , excited for the coming year. Erin Tabish, first-yebiology major, is in sixth place individually. She said that the team has a lot of potential and that they want to focus on their game. We want to be more consistent next year, Tabish The Westminster womens golf team finishes their round at Glendale Golf Course. With four tournaments left in the season, the said. student, Mari Hiitsi, senior, Erin Tabish, womens team is leading the Frontier Conference. From left to right, Audrey Kriss, first-yeThe team members first-yestudent. student, Ashley Dechant, first-yesaid they hope changes 27-stro- ke ar ar ar ar in Westminsters athletic conference will help them receive e coach next year to a at the top of their them keep full-tim- game. ar "No one really takes us seriously," Audrey Kriss said. "But then we go out and beat some of the older girls." PWEfUf" 3 |