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Girls golf in Williamsville continues to grow
Since its debut last year, the team has increased from 11 to 17 members. Betsy Ulmer, one of three Williamsville coaches and one of the driving forces behind getting Williamsville a team last year, expects the 2007 roster to be much stronger this year, partly because of coach Patty Jordan. A former 13-year member of the Ladies Professional Golf Association, Jordan played in over 200 events, earned five top-25 finishes and won the Ocean State Open in 1988. She is part of the 2007 Greater Buffalo Hall of Fame class. Jordan is director of instruction and junior coordinator at Brookfield Country Club. "She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience," said Ulmer. "It seemed like a natural fit." Jordan's philosophy centers around a good, better, how approach she learned from veteran golf instructors Lynn Marriott and Pia Nilsson. "It's a system of feedback where you look at opportunities to improve, not the what-I-did-wrong syndrome which happens a lot," said Jordan. "It reinforces strategies for what went well. I like the girls to have at least three goods for every better. It's been really fun to see what the girls come up with." The roster will also be stronger with the debut of Natalie Wisniewski. The Williamsville South junior had been playing on South's boys' team the past two seasons. Wisniewski has played on the WNYPGA Junior Girls Golf Tour and individual girls' division in the Buffalo District Friday Interclub league which led to local junior tournaments and national American Junior Golf Association events. Ulmer can remember Wisniewski winning a girls tournament at age 10 at Brookfield Country Club. "Last year, I believe she really didn't know what to expect," said Ulmer. "She had already played on the boys' team the previous year so I think she wanted to stay with what was more in her comfort zone. With a girls' team, it provides her a better opportunity to qualify for sectionals and ultimately compete and win a state championship." Ulmer said Wisniewski's ultimate goal is to play golf in college. Wisniewski is currently suffering from a left wrist injury that occurred a month ago while golfing. She has been going to physical therapy but has not been medically cleared to compete. If Wisniewski can eventually be cleared to play, she must compete in at least six matches to advance to sectionals next May. The team has five other students from South. They are: seventh grader, Emily Marcus; junior Alexandra Rasey; and sophomores Cassie Cecchini, Katie Darnley and Andrea Dycha. East has the biggest contingent of players with eight. Included is Transit Middle School seventh grader Esperanza Chestnut, Transit Middle School eighth grader Jackie Benzino and sophomores Erin Giangreco, Emily Klosterman, Chelsea Neubecker, Lisa Saffire, Elizabeth Chestnut and Kate Treiber. North features Heim Middle School eighth grader Haley Stogsdill, sophomore Alex Novak and junior Caitlin Curry. Darnley, Giangreco and Curry are the team captains. Ulmer said a future goal is to have enough players to field a team from East, North and South. Ulmer said a team goal this year is to better the team's 3-3 record from last season. The team will also play Lancaster, who will field a girls golf team for the first time. "I couldn't be happier with how the sport has progressed in a short period of time," said Ulmer. "It's going to explode soon."
Williamsville is 2-0 after defeating Immaculata, 252-384 and Buffalo Seminary, 248-338. |
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