The Westlake girls golf team is undefeated heading into today’s SWC tournament. (Photo by Larry Bennet)

Undefeated Lady Demons attempt to win SWC
By Zachary Dzurick
Sports
Published Sept. 28, 2005

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Last year the Westlake golf team came together after the SWC tournament when they shocked many observers to finish third in sectionals. Maybe even more important to the team was finally finishing ahead of longtime nemesis Olmsted Falls.

The entire team returned for this year. Now, instead of being the underdog, they are heavy favorites entering today girls SWC golf tournament at Forest Hills. The Lady Demons are 18-0 on the season, including big wins over Magnificat and previously undefeated St. Joseph Academy.

"They have more experience and a lot more golf under their belt," coach Mary Beth Schneidler said. "They are always told to go out and play the course and not the opponent. You need to shoot your best, and that is what they have tried to do. We have used one through six in many matches. The best is when one of our top four have not scored well, we have gotten a good score from our fifth or sixth.”

Juniors Traci Edmunds and Anne Hertl have traded medallist honors for most of the season. Both have posted a 39 at Hilliard Lakes as a season best. Sophomore Kaleigh McMahon has been a solid number three. Her season best was a 40 at The Links.

"Kaleigh played once for us last year," Schneidler said. "She has really pumped her game up this year. She gets fired up if she is not in the top five and that is great. She has worked hard."

The next three spots have been a rotation of sophomore Julie Wise, junior Maura Ruane, senior Alex Polgar and freshman Aimee Polgar.

In fact, it was the freshman Polgar who won the medallist honors at the inaugural six-team Westlake Invitational Tournament held Sept. 20 at the Lakewood Country Club.

"Aimee has been shooting 45 and under the last few rounds," Schneidler said. "She has been a great addition to our team. It has been a big plus that we were not expecting."

The team contends that they feel no extra pressure being undefeated and the favorites.

"There is not pressure like last year because we know the other players and we know the courses. Being undefeated gives us confidence to play well," Edmunds said. "If I have a bad shot or a bad hole, I can just forget about it because I have five others behind me who are awesome golfers who can cover my bad shots."

Always filled with potential, Westlake has jelled and risen to their talent level this season.

"It surprised me that we are this good," Hertl said. "I knew we had the talent and we had all this potential to be this amazing, but we actually did it. We have played so well."

Close off the course as well, the team believes that has been key in this year's success.

"We are doing really well because we are so close and support each other," Ruane said. "We are focused and it helps a lot when you can count on everyone."

"We are more than a team. We are sisters," Wise said. "You spend so much time together on a golf course. You spend every day together and you really get to know each other."

And it that helps knowing the support is there whether you have a good round or bad one.

"There is nothing better than when you finish a bad round and you still get hugs and support," Edmunds said.

So while the team feels no pressure, there is a great deal placed on the shoulders on their coach. However, it is a pressure that is welcomed.

"The most pressure is on me," Schneidler said. "I do not know which six to pick. I look at the scores and we are a stroke apart on eight golfers. How do you pick a magic combination? You can only take five to sectionals. Which five do I take? It is a nice dilemma to have as a coach."