By Jeff Preval
When coaches give their seasonal perspectives, they usually attempt to rate team performance. Such perspectives come frequently in a season - sometimes not. For Pride head coach Bob Schwab, season perspectives come daily as he has seen his Men's and Women's Golf teams live in the depths of success.
On Sunday and Monday Nov. 7 and 8th the Pride women entered the final turn of their roller coaster fall season, as they traveled to participate in the TPC Virginia Beach Women's Invitational, hosted by Old Dominion University at Virginia Beach, VA.
According to Schwab, the 5,852 yard course was as difficult as the eight hour long van ride to Virginia was distant. After the tournament and ultimately the fall season, Schwab was finally able to breathe and thank God that the fall season had completed. Such a breath of air must not have lasted long, as the realization of the women finishing in twelfth place (384-364-748), only to defeat Hampton University (380-388-768) settled.
In addition to the Pride's dreadful season, Schwab was left half smiling and half scolding in the aftermath of the ODU finish, as Pride young gunner Caitlin Munroe tied sophomore Tamara Bargiel for 45th place with a 181. Bargiel, who had her best showing with an 84 (+12 par) on the last day at Virginia Beach, shot a peculiarly similar total as Munroe, who had her worst tournament round of a 92 last Monday.
Schwab, who had expected a better season performance from Bargiel said she has been "playing pretty well but not as well as I thought." Meanwhile Munroe, a much different tale, has struck concern into Schwab by possibly working too hard and not seeing dividends pay off. According to Schwab, Munroe knows she can shoot better and is simply "experiencing a period of adjustment while being away from her family."
Munroe, who will travel back to California for the winter break, will substitute for a slumping fall by returning refreshed in the spring. Upon Munroe's arrival, Schwab believes she will not shoot as high in the fall. In fact, Schwab is confident that Munroe will be playing well enough to break eighty as the team enters April.
Unlike the Pride, Ohio University were extraordinarily efficient at Virginia Beach and withstood a second-round serge from Florida Atlantic University (320-315-635), to win their second TPC/Virginia Beach Invitational by one stroke. Ohio, who finished with a (314-320-634) had junior Julie Tomlinson (81-75-156) and teammate Sara Ann Palmer (74-82-156) both tie for fourth, as well as sophomores Shanna Siefke and Meredith Waterston, all finish in the top 20 out of 64 competitors. Finally, Kate O'Sullivan of High Point won the individual championship with a (74-77-151) beating Laura Mengelkamp of Wyoming by one stroke.
With the season over, Schwab, despite the negative occurrences believes it has been a learning experience. By shooting high numbers and finishing no better than fifth in two of their last five tournaments, Schwab believes the Pride women have only two competitive golfers in Bargiel and Munroe. Schwab, who commends the Pride as a team on their attitude towards golf, believes the Pride have a hidden ability to improve. When such ability is discovered, Schwab says the Pride will discover the "fruits of their hard work."
Until that time, Pride golf will step back from the golf course and will focus more on strength and conditioning with the idea of partaking in Yoga in January. Schwab, who believes his players don't know how to come back after shooting a bad hole, will attempt to improve his team psychologically to refresh his players.
When fully returned, the Pride women will travel to Georgetown University, where the Pride women will attempt to resurrect their season and mold Schwab's indifferent face into a full smile.