The Athens Drive women’s golf team finished the season going undefeated in the Southwest Wake Athletic Conference (SWAC) with a record of 10-0, placing second at regionals, fifth at states, Jennifer Chang winning the individual state championship title.
Chang, sophomore, won her second straight individual state championship title October 27. Chang and Riley Smyth, sophomore at Cardinal Gibbons, each shot even-par 72s to share the low round of the tournament. Both of them shot one bogey and one birdie. Chang’s first day score, 72, was followed by a 6-over par 78 on the second day which gave her a 150 total that allowed her to win by two strokes. This was the fourth state title claimed by an Athens Drive golfer and and the fifth in the past seven years.
“I feel honored to become a the state champion for the second time in a row this year. What’s special about this year state championship is that I got to go to states as a team,” said Chang.
Freshman Kayla Parson and Senior Rachel Lipman and Chang all qualified as a team to move onto regionals. In order for a team to qualify for regionals, the team must be able to send three eligible players. In order for the three to qualify as a team, Lipman had to shoot a 98 or better, and she shot a 98.
“When I was playing I didn’t feel like I was doing that well so when I got back back to the clubhouse I didn’t count my score like I usually do and I just waited for the officials to put my score up on the board. When I saw my coach fall to the floor and then run towards me I knew that I had made it,” said Lipman.
Chang, Parson and Lipman placed second with a total score of 250 losing to Cardinal Gibbons by 25 points at the 2015 4A Women’s Golf East Regional Championships Oct. 20. Chang shot the best individual score at regionals scoring a 67.
“The main reason we have been so good is that we are a team. Sure we have a couple star players but they assist the other teammates and push the whole team aspect and push everybody to do their best even if it means it would move one of them off the players list,” said Dave Snyder, head coach.
The team also claimed all the SWAC awards. Jennifer Chang was named Player of the Year and head coach Dave Snyder received Coach of the Year. The player of the year award is determined by the lowest strokes-per-nine-holes average rather than a vote.
“Being awarded the Conference Coach of the year by my fellow coaches in the conference was an awesome honor. It showed that my peers saw my dedication to the conference as well as my team,” said Snyder.
During the regular season, the women’s golf team went undefeated, winning every 9-hole match, putting them in first place with a total of 90 points and beating second place team Middle Creek by 16 points. The team also won the 18-hole tournament at Bentwinds Country Club.
“The thing I was most proud of is how we acted as a team throughout the whole year and how we were cheerleaders for ourselves. To me that is a team,” said Snyder.
