College Publisher Test Site

Golf season is in full swing as the Daytona State Lady Falcon Golf Team prepares for yet another run at the NJCAA National Championship. After finishing second last season, this year's team has the championship in its sites.

Coach Laura Brown is in her 11th season leading the Lady Falcons, and she is optimistic about this team's championship potential.

"So far this year's team has proven to be more solid than last year's squad. Their team scoring average is 8 shots less per round, which is quite significant. I feel that this team has a very good chance of recapturing the national championship."

Brown knows what it takes to win the championship. Her teams captured the title three consecutive years from 2003 to 2005. The team came up short in 2007 and 2008, finishing second and third in the championship tournament, but this year's team could return the school to the top.

"They are a very talented group and I believe if they continue to have the confidence that they did in the fall then the spring is going to be a huge success. They know what it takes to be successful and I think they are going to do whatever it takes to win the national championship this year."

Team Captain Melissa Magdor, ranked third in the nation, is excited about the prospect of returning to the national tournament.

"I think about it every day; I can't wait for it. Last year everybody was so nervous. I was nervous myself, and nerves can get to everyone. I think that's why we came up a little short. Now we have experience, and we know what it's all about."

In addition to being named team MVP in 2008, Magdor received First-Team All-American honors. She finished fourth in last year's championship tournament.

Sophomore Meghan Hughes, currently ranked first in the country, said that this year she's going to fight off the nerves by treating the championship tournament like it's "just another round."

After coming up short last season, though, the girls aren't taking the championship for granted.

"I expect us to win, but you never know," said Magdor.

Daytona State is hosting the NJCAA National Golf Championship once again. The tournament will be held at the LPGA International Golf Club from May 18-21.

Magdor, Hughes and teammate Kristen Boettcher have all accepted full scholarships to play for Jacksonville University next season. JU has a division I golf team coached by Mike Blackburn.

"It's going to be cool," said Hughes. "We're all really close, and moving to a new city with a new coach is going to be a change. We're going to miss our coach, but Coach Blackburn seems really nice, and we're going to be practicing at a lot of top notch courses."

The Lady Falcons aren't just top performers on the golf course; they also excel in the classroom. The team has been named the FCCAA Female State Academic Team of the Year for two years in a row, and is on pace to win the award once again.

"The golf team has always had a really high GPA, especially the last couple of years," said Hughes, who is majoring in communication. "Coach Brown stresses that we keep up with our grades."

After the fall semester, the team has an average GPA of 3.54. This is a significant improvement over last year's award-winning GPA of 3.35.

Magdor says that she wants to continue with golf after her college playing days are over.

"My future is definitely going to revolve around golf. If I don't make it to the LPGA, I want to either own a golf course, be a head pro at a golf course, or work as an instructor." Magdor also said that she would love to coach golf at the college level.

Article Tools