Sept. 3, 2008

For the first time in a long time, expectations are sky high with the Dayton Flyers women's golf program.

Not at any point since the Dayton program began has there been such buzz surrounding this group of talented golfers. The Flyers are a trendy pick to build upon a strong 2007-08 season after UD flourished in their spring season, winning the Ashland and Bellarmine Invitationals.

Dayton finished in the Top Five in seven events and returns its five best scoring golfers from a year ago. With zero seniors on the roster, this is a team that gained a vast amount of experience last season and developed good habits and attitude.

However questions remain as to whether or not the Flyers can live up to the hype and repeat the success of last season. Head coach Sally Kosters believes with a young, talented group in place, UD is poised for greater accomplishments in 2008-09.

JUNIORS
With five juniors on the roster, the Flyers enjoy a strong foundation of talent, experience and leadership. All six returnees posted career-bests in one of three categories: stroke average, total rounds and low round.

Katie Dempsey and Katie Gallagher both played all 20 rounds last season and return offering a strong 1-2 combo. Dempsey built upon a solid freshman season to finish second on the team in stroke average as a sophomore. Gallagher steadily improved all throughout last season and won last year's UD Invitational.

Dempsey and Gallagher will have plenty of help. Casey Peterson also enjoyed a career year as a sophomore and showed vast improvements by improving her drives off the tee. Paige Smith jumped from ninth to fifth on the team in stroke average and played more consistently down the stretch. Cari DeAngelis also reduced her stroke average and enjoyed her best tournament finish as a sophomore.

With the continued development of the junior class, Kosters believes this is a group that with consistent all-around play the Flyers will be in great shape in many tournaments this season.

SOPHOMORES
The infusion of talent and energy created last year by the current group of sophomores not only lifted Dayton on the course but also created a national awareness about this group's potential.

Last year's team most valuable player, Julie Pouliquen, returns after leading UD in stroke average at 80.7, total rounds with 20 and tournaments won with two. Pouliquen finished among the Top 20 individual golfers in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Heather Grant finished her freshman year fourth on the squad in stroke average and has worked on improving her overall consistency on the course. Megan Keating and Ellen Ciacchini round out the group, both looking to improve upon last season and add depth to the Flyer rotation.

FRESHMEN
Kosters brought in two freshmen to add to the strong team depth. Clara Ang showcases international experience, while Heather Jorgensen won a Toledo City League title and was named first team All-District. The Flyers expect Jorgensen and Ang to, not only compete, but push the returnees and created spirited competition in practice and qualifying rounds.

SCHEDULE
UD pretty much mirrored last year's schedule and the familiarity should help. Dayton's fall schedule has six events including the UD Invitational which the Flyers are hosting for the second consecutive year. The Flyers begin the 2008-09 campaign Sept. 7 at the Chicago State Invitational. Dayton then wraps up on Oct. 27-28 at the UD Invitational. The event will be held at the NCR Country Club North Course in Kettering, Ohio.

All of the events should help the Flyers improve upon last year's finish at the CAA Championships. This year's tournament will be held from April 17-19 at the Callaway Gardens Course from Pine Mountain, Ga.

With all of the pieces in place, 2008-09 should be another high-flying year for the Flyers. Even though UD does not have a single senior on the roster, Dayton still figures with the returnees in place and focused on the task at hand, the Flyers can reach new heights this season.