W. Golf Takes Baby Step

1996

Sports Statistics

Coach: Warren Smith

Key Players: Captain Alexis Boyle; Senior Megan Murray; Junior, Suzanne Ranere

1997

Still in its infant stage, the Harvard women's golf team took another stride toward maturity this season.

Unfortunately one of its biggest obstacles had nothing to do with bunkers or rough greens. Rather it was the unpredictable, uncooperating New England weather which had its way with the 1996-97 season.

"I think that [the weather] is one of the toughest things about collegiate golf," captain Alexis Boyle said. "We are used to playing in the summer in shorts, and then we have to play in October in Dartmouth up in the snow."

Despite this adversity, the Crimson steadily made progress throughout the season, culminating in a second place finish at the Massachusetts State Championship.

Pacing the Crimson attack was Boyle, who shot a team high 82. Boyle--who led all Harvard golfers in seven of the team's eight tournaments--was the most consistent competitor, averaging 86.5 per round. The only other Crimson golfer to top Boyle in a tournament was fellow senior Megan Murray, who shot a 166--including a season high 79--good enough for fifth overall at the two-day Ivy League Championships.

Unlike Murray, Harvard as a team did not fair well at the league tournament as it finished fourth in a pool of five teams. Boyle finished 10 strokes behind her teammate while junior and captain-elect for the 1997-98 season Suzanne Ranere was the other Crimson notable with a 183.

"Both fall and spring golf is difficult if you're not used to it, but the team persevered," Boyle said. "We actually did well in the bad weather because we were able to block it out and play through it."

Because inclement weather forced a match cancellation against Dartmouth on May 3, Harvard finished off its season at the Northeast Championships the week before. In her last collegiate tournament, Boyle posted her best rounds of the year with a 169 (88-81). Murray also rose to the occasion with a consistent 172 (86-86).

It was only four years ago that Boyle was one of three golfers on the Crimson squad. Thanks to the recruiting by Boyle and her teammates, the number has grown to seven.

"We have just worked on numbers from the beginning," said Boyle. "We loved it and enjoyed it."

Now that her time is up and the battle for women's golf at Harvard has been won, Boyle can finally leave knowing that her program has nothing left to do but grow.