FOREST, Va. --- In the two-plus years since the ODAC added women's golf to its sports sponsorship, play has elevated each season. That trend remained true this past fall with ODAC squads showing well at several tournaments, leading to much anticipation as teams prepare to open play in the spring campaign.
Randolph-Macon College has proved victorious in the first two ODAC Women's Golf Championships, winning the team title at Bay Creek Golf and Resort in 2013 and then duplicating that effort at Rock Barn Golf & Spa in 2014. The conference championship will return to the Conover, N.C., course for a second straight season this April.
Much like her team, junior Olivia Bowling has captured both individual medals at the league tournament, winning by four strokes in 2013 and nine shots in 2014. She narrowly missed out on the NCAA Division III Tournament last season.
(Watch Bowling's "ODAC Spotlight Interview" from the fall season)
Washington and Lee University made a major push this fall, powered by improved play from its veterans and an injection of talent from the 2014-15 freshman class. Mary-Frances Hall and Caroline Holloway are two of those newcomers, and they enter the spring with the top two averages in the conference at 77.0 and 77.7, respectively. Hall made her ODAC mark early, winning the ODAC Preview (even) at Rock Barn. Liza Freed, another first year standout, is fourth at 78.6. Sara Moir (83.8) and Rachael Wright (86.9) helped complete the Generals' quintet that leads the ODAC with a 317.1 team average. The Generals are ranked sixth in the country in the Golfstat NCAA Team rankings.
(Watch the Washington and Lee University women's golf season preview)
Bowling leads the Yellow Jackets (340.1) into the spring, powered by a 78.3 average, currently third in the ODAC. She won twice individually, posting victories at the NYU Invitational (-2) and Bridgewater Invitational (+3), which bookended the fall season. Rebecca Ream (84.6) and Tracy Moriconi (86.3) were solid before the winter break.
Bridgewater College turned in a 327.0 team average to rank second in the league. Christina Herbert owns the team's best mark at 79.4, which is fifth in the league. Marin Warring (80.3) won twice in back-to-back tournament's at the Stevenson Fall Invitational (+11) and the Generals Invitational (+11).
Hollins University will look to replace the contributions of national qualifier Elizabeth Cheng. Shannon Ciccarello is the squad's top option, after posting an 85.0 average. She placed in the top-10 in each of three events she competed.
Eastern Mennonite University features Brittany McDonaldson, who made strides at the beginning of her third season in Harrisonburg. Her 86.0 average is powered by a pair of top-10 showings. Savannah Lester will also take to the links.
This past fall was the first for the Shenandoah University women's golf program, bringing the ODAC's school representation to six. Sarah Eadie participated in three tournaments, enjoying a 12th-place showing at the ODAC Preview.
Play for conference teams begins the weekend of February 28 with Washington and Lee heading to the Callaway Gardens Intercollegiate, hosted by Berry College. For more information on ODAC women's golf, visit any of the participating school's websites, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com. Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook. You can also follow the ODAC on Twitter@odacathletics.