The women’s golf team is on the road once again this weekend. The Falcons are traveling to Pennsylvania to compete in the “Penn State Nittany Lion Invitational.” The two-day tournament will begin on Saturday and run throughout the weekend.
The Falcons had last weekend off, and although the bye week is well deserved for the Falcons, it could be badly timed. The Falcons started off the season strong with a fifth place finish at Ball State and then struggled to finish ninth at Ann Arbor. With a first place finish in the “Lady Falcon Invitational,” it is fair to say that the Falcons were playing their best golf of the season going into the bye week.
The Falcons, however, hope to get right back on track this weekend at Penn State. With the week off to rest and practice, the Falcons hope to continue their winning ways and great season.
“The weekend off was really nice. After three tournaments we needed a week off, but it would have been nice to keep playing and carry over our win in the tournament we hosted,” senior Shelley Binzel said. “Overall, I thought it was a good week to practice for the team. We had a chance to get our games in gear for this weekend’s tough course at Penn State.”
This tournament will mark the first time the Falcons have traveled to Penn State in two years. In 2000 the Falcons finished tied for eighth overall in the tournament. The leading scorers for Bowling Green, however, are very familiar ones. As a sophomore, Binzel led the Falcons scoring in the “The 2000 Nittany Lion Invitational.” Following Binzel were freshmen Jenny Schnipke and sophomore Stephanie Elsea. As you can see, although the Falcons didn’t compete in the tournament last year, they certainly have experience at Penn State.
The Falcons are making the trip without some key players this week. Junior Julie Wise and Senior Emily Hassen are injured and will not be competing in this week’s tournament. Hassen finished in the top twenty-five in the team’s last tournament, but back problems will keep her from competing, and she will surely be missed by the team.
Injuries and all, the team is still very optimistic about the tournament.
“We should do very well this weekend. We have a chance to be really competitive on the tough course,” Binzel said. “The injuries will play a role, but there is no doubt in my mind that we can step it up and fill in for the injuries.”
