Aug. 30, 2007
IOWA CITY – The 2007 golf season marks year two for University of Iowa women’s Head Coach Kelly Crawford, and her expectations are higher than ever.
“I don’t see a reason we can’t be in the top four of our conference,” Crawford stated. “If we put everything together and give our best effort every week, we have as good a chance as anyone. I’m very optimistic.”
Iowa finished the 2007 spring campaign by placing eighth at the Big Ten Championships, but they didn’t miss the top half by much. The Hawkeyes ended the season trailing sixth-place Illinois by only three strokes. After falling short of expectations last year, Crawford believes success if within reach this year.
“We all obviously want to win,” Crawford said. “Last year, I felt we were a better team than what we showed on the course. I thought we had a team that could have easily been in the top half of the conference. I will be disappointed if we don’t get there this season.”
The Hawkeyes return five letterwinners, including seniors Melanie Boyles and Jill Marcum. Crawford believes they will have a huge impact on Iowa’s fortunes this season.
“Like any group of seniors, we are looking for them to lead,” Crawford said. “They give us experience and depth, and those are important to the success of any team.”
Boyles’ best finish last year was at the Lady Buckeye Invitational where she placed eighth with a score of 230. The Tempe, AZ, native finished tied for 39th at the Big Ten Championships with a 320.
Marcum participated in all 11 tournaments throughout the season, and had four top-ten finishes. Her season best score of 219 came at the GSU/Pelican Preserve where she tied for fourth place. At the Hawkeye Intercollegiate, the Clarinda, IA, native placed fifth with a score of 234.
Also returning for the Hawkeyes are juniors Tyrette Metzendorf and Becky Quinby. Joining them will be the lone sophomore of the group, Alison Cavanaugh.
Metzendorf shot a 235 on her way to a sixth-place finish at the Hawkeye Intercollegiate, as well as finishing 32nd at the Big Ten Championships. The Winter Haven, FL, native shot a low-round of 73 on two separate occasions last season.
Quinby participated in three tournaments last fall for the Hawkeyes, and tied for 24th at the Hawkeye Intercollegiate. The Plymouth, MN native tied a career-best 79 during the first and third rounds at the Notre Dame Invitational.
Cavanaugh, from Littleton, CO, played in only one tournament during the 2006-07 season. She placed 48th at the Hawkeye Intercollegiate. She earned the team’s annual Tigerhawk Award, which goes to the hardest-working student-athlete on the team.
Of nine golfers on the Hawkeye roster, four will be true freshmen. Two new members of the Hawkeye family include native Iowans Laura Cilek from Iowa City, IA, and Amanda Stahl from Marion, IA. They finished first and second, respectively, in the state tournament last spring. All four freshmen bring impressive high school résumés and Crawford expects each to contribute immediately.
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“I don’t see a reason we can’t be in the top four of our conference. If we put everything together and give our best effort every week, we have as good a chance as anyone. I’m very optimistic.”
Head Coach Kelly Crawford
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“To have the two best players in the state of Iowa pick the Hawkeyes is huge,” said Crawford. “We feel they will be ready to go and will be a big factor this season.”
Joining Cilek and Stahl will be Lauren Forbes from Tulsa, OK, and Brianna Coopman from Georgetown, TX. Forbes finished fourth at the Oklahoma state high school tournament and Coopman was team MVP for three years during her career at Georgetown High School.
“From a recruiting standpoint, our future looks bright,” Crawford said. “We want to have the best players and get the best invites, but you need one to do the other. I think we’re definitely moving in the right direction.”
As the Hawkeyes move towards their goal of finishing at the top of the conference, Crawford knows it won’t be an easy road, as four conference teams finished with top-25 honors nationally. However, as everything comes together, Crawford is excited for the season to begin.
“We play in a very competitive conference, and to get to the top is no easy feat,” said Crawford. “We feel we can be a top-50 team nationally and, if everything falls into place, I believe we can accomplish that goal. We are ready to get the season going.”
The Hawkeyes open their fall season September 8-9 in East Lansing, MI, where they compete in the Mary Fossum Invitational. After traveling to State College, PA, to participate in the Lady Northern Invite on September 22-23, the Hawkeyes return home to host the 34th annual Hawkeye Intercollegiate on October 6-7. Iowa will close its fall slate by traveling to Honolulu, HI, to participate in the Rainbow Invitational on October 29-31.
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