Princeton University Athletics
1999-2000 Women's Golf Outlook
August 09, 1999 | Women's Golf
Aug. 9, 1999
With the new millennium just around the corner, the 1999-2000 women's golf team wants to go out on top. With major championships in the last two seasons, the Tigers have the experience and talent to repeat. In its eighth year as a varsity sport, Princeton overcame a four-stroke deficit to win the program's first-ever Ivy League Championship. Losing only one senior to graduation, the Tigers have the right combination to conquer the League once again.
With only one senior on this year's team, the Tigers are led by an unbelievable strong junior class. Co-captain Julia Allison tops the list of superstars on the team. Allison has won six individual titles, including the 1999 Ivy League crown. She is the only two-time All-Ivy selection on this year's squad, not to mention the 1998 Northeast Rookie of the Year. Classmates Natalie Christensen and Adrienne Gill have posted fine finishes the past two seasons and will be counted on to help Princeton remain a major contender in each tournament. They will provide leadership and guidance for a team that boasts six freshmen and sophomores. The lone member of the Class of 2000, co-captain Meagan Smith, has overcome a serious wrist injury to put herself in the mix. Smith was Princeton's second highest finisher in both the 1999 Ivy League and Northeast championships. She will play an integral role of the Tigers' success this season.
Coach Stein, the 1998 Northeast Coach of the Year, will look for continued development out of juniors Liz Pohl and Candice Smith. Sophomore Whitney Lamberson, who took home All-Ivy honors last season, hopes to remain in the starting lineup.
The Tigers have three quality freshmen on this year's team that have the credentials to be key contributors. Megan Milam, from Idaho Falls, will be half of the first brother-sister golf duo at Princeton. Milam's older brother James is a member of the men's team. The top junior golfer from Idaho, Milam was an all-conference selection and finished second in the Big I qualifier. A participant in the Junior World and Junior Americas Cup, Milam won her district championship and finished third in the Idaho State Championship. Joining Milam will be Vanessa Redman and Kelly Sortino. A fine golfer from California, Redman was the number one player on her high school team. She has recorded numerous sub-40 rounds (nine holes) in high school competition. Owner of six individual medals over the past two years, Sortino posted to Top 5 finishes in the IHSA Regionals. The top player on her high school team, Sortino tied for first at the 1998 IJGA regional tournament. These newcomers should add depth to an already strong team.
The Tigers have garnered an ECAC championship, Northeast championship and an Ivy crown in the last four years. Princeton should be in contention for those titles again this season.
"In the world of women's golf in the northeast, the top contending teams should once again be Hartford, Yale and Rutgers," coach Stein says. "The Tigers remain excited and optimistic about the 1999 season. With the entire starting lineup returning from the Ivy championship, plus quality returners and freshman, the toughest challenge my be determining the Top 5."
The Tigers begin the 1999-2000 campaign at the Dartmouth Invitational in Hanover. Princeton has been very successful in recent years at the annual event. A good start in the fall will help the Tigers in their drive to repeat as Ivy champion.