The women’s golf team was in a slump. In four of the opening five matches of the season, the Tigers found themselves in last place, but, with the season only half over, the team knew that there was room for improvement on the green.
On September 18, the Tigers participated in a match against local rivals Carrboro, East Chapel Hill, Jordan and South Granville high schools.
The team’s luck finally started to take a turn, and the Tigers ended up placing higher than South Granville. Freshman Madelyn Schoenfisch and senior captain Tessa Wall helped pave the way for the outcome, with Schoenfisch shooting 54 and Wall shooting 55 on the nine-hole course.
A week later, the Tigers faced off again against the same opponents, and yet again Chapel Hill topped South Granville. This time, sophomore captain Heidi Etter stole the show, shooting 48 on the 9 hole course. Things were looking a bit brighter.
The next week, October 3, facing off again against the same opponents, the Tigers once again rode the momentum for a strong showing. This time, the Tigers placed above both Carrboro and South Granville. Etter shot a 45 on the 9 hole course to help propel the Tigers to a third-place finish at the match.
Six days later, the Tigers were on a roll with similar results, again placing above Carrboro and South Granville. Etter shaved a stroke off her previous score, shooting a 44, and Wall shot a 58.
On October 16, the day of the DAC-VII conference tournament, only Etter represented Chapel Hill High School. Etter ended up shooting 87 in the final round of the conference tournament, just one stroke shy of the qualifying score to advance to the state tournament.
Despite the disappointing end to the season, coach Tom Stanfa has high hopes for Etter’s future high school golf career. “I want to see [Etter] continue to grow and get stronger,” he said. “I really want her to make states. This season she was one stroke off.”
Stanfa added the gradual improvement that the team showed was part of his plan alll along. “We didn’t have any goal of winning,” Stanfa said. “Winning and losing were immaterial; what we were trying to do was learn the game and have fun.”
First-time player junior Lilly Burton, who started playing golf just two weeks before the season started, expressed her pride in her team. “I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the team,” she said. “Next season I hope to improve my score and drive the ball more consistently.”
Senior captain and four-year starter Caitlin McCarthy reflected on her and the team’s growth throughout the past years.
“I’ve gotten really close with my teammates,” McCarthy said. “It’s a super fun and relaxing sport; I’ll miss it.”
With a positive attitude from the players and plans to build on their existing skills, Stanfa and the Tigers are looking forward to hitting the green with renewed force and a competitive spirit next season.
