The Lady Cardinals golf team will begin the fall portion of its season Saturday by taking part in the Olivet Fall Invitational at the Medalist Golf Club in Marshall, Mich.
Expectations are high for the team this season, and rightfully so, as it placed 15th at the NCAA Division III Women's Golf Championship last season. The Lady Cardinals also won the OAC Championship last year for the third consecutive time and for the seventh time in eight seasons.
After last year's strong season, coach Mark Paluszak, 2009 OAC Coach of the Year for both the men's and women's teams, left after serving just one season as head coach.
Now, for the third straight year, both the men and the women will be working under new head coaches. This year, however, there will be separate coaches for the two teams with Matt Cooperrider leading the men and Chad Bucci taking the reins for the women.
"We now have separate men's and women's coaches because we felt it was in the best interest of the programs and for the athletes," said Dick Reynolds, Otterbein athletic director.
Bucci is a 1991 graduate of Malone University where he played on the varsity golf team for four seasons, winning the NAIA district title his senior year. Bucci is also a class A-1 member of the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) and brings over 19 years of professional experience to the team.
On coming to Otterbein, Bucci said, "I was approached by (Catherine) Brunoehler. I had been giving her lessons throughout the summer, and I thought it was a great opportunity for me."
The Lady Cardinals return sophomore Christine Foppe, junior Heidi Mitchell, sophomore Alexandria Pulos, senior Kelsey Tosca, as well as 2010 All-American Catherine Brunoehler who is entering her senior season. Freshman Stephanie Giltrow also joins the team this season.
Mitchell is looking to improve on success from previous seasons, both personally and as a team. "For this weekend in particular, I hope to get out all those first tournament jitters, post some good scores and come out of there hopefully on a high note," she said. t&c;
