Emily Foran '05 beat out Darene Matsuako of Wellesley and Audry Longo of Mt. Holyoke in a sudden death playoff to take first place individually.
Foran, who shot a 77, rallied late to finish tied for first place. On the first playoff hole, Foran hit a beautiful chip to within a few feet of the pin. Suppressing any signs of nervousness, she sunk the winning putt, giving her the individual title. "[Her performance was] an incredible, gutsy performance ... in a sudden-death situation," said Head Coach Kay Cowperthwait. "It was very memorable-she was incredibly tough under what can be a nerve-wracking situation."
In addition, Cowperthwait was ecstatic about the team's overall play. "There were several strong teams there this weekend, so it was a great win." Cowperthwait believes that the combined score of 332 is an Amherst women's record.
Pitching in as usual with a low score was captain Katie Gravel '03, who broke 80 for the first time in her collegiate career. After a rough start in Amherst's opener at Dartmouth College, Gravel has bounced back strongly, shooting the low Jeff score in two of the team's last three tournaments.
In past weeks, Amherst had been able to top most of their Division III competition; but last week, Amherst fell to host Mt. Holyoke. This week was different though, as Amherst topped everyone. Cowperthwait was proud of her team's victory. "They have gained tremendous experience through some of their difficult rounds and they are becoming more confident with each strong round," she said.
Despite the team's success week after week, Cowperthwait believes Amherst could be even stronger. "We are learning how to manage the golf course and not let down when things aren't going as well as we planned," she said. "Mental toughness in golf is crucial, and the team is learning to hold onto that strength throughout each round." Cowperthwait expects to see similar results from her team next Saturday. The Jeffs will face a similar field as they wrap up their fall season at the Wellesley Invitational.