ETSU’s women’s golf team is hoping to open up their season this weekend with some good playing in Myrtle Beach at the Unlimited Potential/Bay Tree Classic.
Unfortunately, the Bay Tree Classic may get added to this season’s list of games that have been canceled from a hurricane.
Whatever is left of Hurricane Jeanne is expected to reach Myrtle Beach right before the competition starts.
The tournament will be the largest event this season for the Lady Bucs. There is an expected field of 36 teams to be competing.Included in the group will be College of Charleston, Gardner-Webb and Costal Carolina – the defending champions.
ETSU will have an advantage going into the tournament because they have played this course before.
Coach Stefanie Reynolds is looking forward to the competition to see how the team can play this season.
But if the Lady Bucs can’t start their play this weekendthere still will be a lot to look forward to in the upcoming season.
The Lady Bucs will be led by freshman standout Maria Ringdahl from Sweden.
Ringdahl has already been heralded as one of the best recruits in the Lady Bucs’ history.
She has recently won the Trummenas Ladies Open, a professional event in Sweden, and is now hoping to continue her career and improve during her time at ETSU.
She has received Sweden’s top amateur honor twice in three years.
Ringdahl finished first at the Junior Masters Invitational in 2003.
“Maria’s goal is to play professional golf after college,” Reynolds said.
“It’s exciting to have a golfer of her caliber believe in the vision of our program and want to help the Lady Bucs become a national championship contender,” she said.
The Lady Bucs will also have junior Ashley Barton returning to continue her stellar career here at ETSU.
“Our best player returned better as a sophomore and is now even stronger,” Reynolds said.
Barton finished her freshman season with the team’s lowest average score.
Last year, she showed much improvement as a sophomore, again having the lowest average score on the team and posting a third-place finish at the Lady Terrier Intercollegiate.
Barton led the Bucs last year at the Southern Conference Championships finishing tied for sixth.
The Lady Bucs will also have returning senior, Danielle O’Reilly.
She is returning after a good season last year, finishing fourth in scoring on the team. O’Reilly played in six of the tournaments last year including her best at the Conference Championships where she proved to be very consistent.
Kailey Brooks and Laura Diaz, returning juniors also played in all 10 tournaments the Bucs competed in last year and will provide strength and leadership on the team.
Two other freshmen, Natalia Giraldo, Cynthia Phillips and lone sophomore, Vanessa Breeding, will round out the Bucs’ team.
In the Southern Conference ETSU will have plenty of work on their hands, mostly against the nationally ranked Furman.
Furman will again return as the Southern Conference’s favorite.
The Paladins are ranked 22nd in preseason polls. Last year they finished 15th at the 2004 NCAA National Championship, and will return four of five members from the postseason squad.
Another SoCon competitor, Wofford, landed former LPGA player Angie Ridgeway as their coach.
“Angie Ridgeway gives Wofford instant credibility for our men’s and women’s programs,” said Vic Limpscomb, director of golf at Wofford.
Ridgeway will give Wofford’s women an advantage in the season to come.
Last year’s Southern Conference runner-up, Western Carolina, is playing in tough tournaments before the Southern Conference Championship.
The Lady Cats lost some of their seniors and will be taking a load of freshmen to the SoCon Championship this season.

Author