2010-11 Women's Golf Preview
9/1/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
The newest addition to the Seton Hall athletics family debuts this fall as the women's golf program begins play under head coach Sara Doell. The Pirates are set for five tournaments and one head-to-head match in their fall season.
"It is an exciting time on campus as we begin the inaugural season of women's golf at Seton Hall," said Doell. "The team is very excited to create the footprint for this program - one that will affect many other student-athletes in the future."
The women's team will join the men's program in calling Fiddler's Elbow Country Club its home course. The Pirates will also put in practice time at a pair of other local venues.
"We are very fortunate to have three facilities to utilize this year," Doell revealed. "The team will spend most of its time at Fiddler's Elbow, our home facility that consists of 54 holes, a short game area, driving range and putting green. We are also privileged to spend time at Trump National, working on skill development with assistant coach and PGA teaching professional Debby Murphy. Maplewood Country Club is the third facility that we will be playing - a great golf course with tight tee shots, rolling hills and a lot of character. This will help us to practice course management and creativity around the greens."
Seven players make up the roster for the 2010-11 season, including a five-member freshman class.
Doell welcomes a duo from Texas, as Christina Cantú and Samantha Massei come to South Orange. Cantú played as the number one for four seasons at The Kinkaid School, and she was ranked 11th in Texas and 93rd nationally in the class of 2010. Massei was a First Team All-District selection and a regional qualifier in each year of her career. She led Allen High School to three district championships.
"Christina has significant experience on the Texas Junior Golf Tour and in the American Junior Golf Association, including two wins and eight top 10 finishes over the past year," remarked Doell. "She will be a leader for our program. Samantha has improved her game tremendously as of late and I expect her to thrive at Seton Hall."
Stacie Ballou, Hannah Basalone and Haley Van Es complete the freshman class. Ballou is a local product from Staten Island, where she was a four-year member of the golf team at Saint Joseph Hill Academy. Basalone played four years on the boys' golf team at Whittier Christian High School in Brea, California, serving as a captain in her junior and senior seasons. Van Es, whose brother, Colin, is a member of the Seton Hall men's program, was a state finalist and Northern Indiana All-Conference selection her last two seasons at Penn High School.
"Stacie had a great deal of success at the high school level, and I believe her love of the game will take her places at the collegiate level," Doell said. "Hannah and Haley also put together strong resumes and their experience and energy will be huge for us."
Rounding out the roster are senior Erica Fitzpatrick and junior Nicole Longobardo.
"Erica and Nicole will play important roles on the team as upperclass leaders," said Doell.
The program will debut on Sept. 11 in the first day of the Bucknell Invitational. Until then, the Pirates will be hard at work in preparation under the watchful eye of their head coach.
"The team will focus its practice time this fall on long and short game skills, target awareness and course management," according to Doell. "Each player will spend time working on the areas of her game that will help her to gain awareness and build confidence in herself."
"The energy and excitement that surrounds the team is immeasurable as we move forward and work to begin a team culture of working hard and playing hard."
