It seems like the Pirate women’s golf team just returned from their fourth place finish at the NCAA Championship in mid-May and yet the highly successful program is already gearing up for a new season. Coach Ruyle enters his tenth season at the helm of the Pirate’s women’s golf team and returns three members of the SCAC Championship team. “I think the women could possibly be deeper than the 4th place team of a year ago,” states Coach Ruyle.

Seniors Kristen Davenport and Cody Wallace will serve as the leaders on the team. Davenport end with an average score of 83.35 in 17 rounds for the 2008-2009 season. She finished as high as fourth place out of 44 golfers at the ConCan Intercollegiate Classic shooting 17 over par in two rounds. Davenport took fifth place at the SCAC Championship at 34 over par and finished tied for 15th at the NCAA Championship out of 111 competitors.

Wallace had an average score of 86.59 in 17 rounds at seven tournaments for the 2008-09 season. She had her best showing at the SCAC Championship where she tied for third overall. At the NCAA Championship Wallace finished in 97th place.

Also returning for the Pirates is 2009 1st team All-American Emily Bartholet. Bartholet, the sole returning junior, captured first place in two events in 2009 and second in two others including the SCAC Championship. She had an average score of 81.33 in 21 rounds for the 2008-2009 season. At the NCAA Championship Bartholet finished tied for 20th place after shooting 37 over par through four rounds of action.

“I think the women could possibly be deeper than the 4th place team of a year ago,” states Coach Ruyle. “It will be hard to replace Marisa Mauldin and Delilah Dominguez, but we have three solid first years. Cody Wallace and Kristen Davenport will be our senior team leaders and have been solid players the last three seasons and Emily Bartholet will be back for her junior year and I look for her to be a good player for us.”

The Pirates add three first-years, Kelsey Coburn, Erin Perry and Steffi Scholer and one transfer, Shae Seagraves, to the team in 2009-2010. “The newcomers have all have very established junior golf resumes, says Coach Ruyle. “They should not have any problems stepping in and contributing right away.”

Southwestern opens the fall season at the Division III Fall Championship in South Bend, IN. “In my opinion we have probably one of the most challenging schedules of any Division III team,” asserts Coach Ruyle. “We will be playing in two of the more competitive Division III women's golf tournaments in the country, the Division III Fall Championship in September and the Jekyll Island Collegiate in March. Good showings in these events should have us ranked amongst the top teams again this year.”