Babs Steffen Invitational Marks Start of Spring Season

HANOVER, N.H. — The Dartmouth women's golf team will be starting their spring season this weekend at the three-day Babs Steffen Invitational hosted by Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. After coming off an incredible fall slate, during which the team finished among the top five in three of its four competitions, the Big Green have high hopes for this weekend and the rest of the spring.

Over the last week, the players have been practicing in Naples, Florida allowing them to stretch their legs after the winter. Combined with the winter training that focused on strengthening and flexibility as well as the players' swings, the team is anxiously anticipating the spring opener.

Alex Kirk, the Carolyn A. Pelzel 1954a Head Coach of Women's Golf, is confident in his team as he feels this has been one of the most competitive squads since the Ivy League instituted women's golf in 1997, and perhaps even the 36-year history of the program. Among the other Ivy League schools, Dartmouth's team stroke average is four behind the first-place contender, Princeton.

Several players have shown a bit of improvement with five finishing among the top 20 during the various fall tournaments. Among those include freshman Maddie Nelson, who took home two top-10 finishes in the fall. Captain Isabelle Kane also played well, leading her team as a junior, and will hopefully continue to bolster her play as the spring season unfolds. Both players are currently rated among the top 20 in the Ivy League.

Representing the Big Green in the invitational will be seniors Jamie Susanin and Tara Simmons, junior Jessica Kittelberger and sophomore Catharine Roddy, while Nelson will complete the five. The other members of the team will all be traveling as well and competing as individuals within the tournament.

The three-day tournament will begin this Saturday, March 25, with a shotgun start.

Schedules