The University of Mississippi Athletics
1998 Women's Golf Outlook
6/21/1999 | Women's Golf
Sept. 1, 1997
The Ole Miss women's golf team has been dreaming of postseason play for a long time.
Head coach Keil Purdom and the Lady Rebels hope their dreams come true by making it to the NCAA East Regional in Durham, N.C., at the Duke Golf Club.
This year, Ole Miss got off to a great start by winning the Tulane Green Wave Classic in the fall of 1997. The team finished second at the Beacon Woods Invitational, third at the Lady Rebel Intercollegiate, fifth at the Lady Seminole Golf Classic and ninth at the Auburn Tiger Invitational. Also, three Lady Rebels captured individual titles in the fall.
With three All-SEC members of the team returning, the completion of a promising fall, and a No. 32 ranking by GolfWeek magazine, Ole Miss could make its dream of postseason play come true.
SENIORS
In order to fulfill their dream of going to Durham, the Lady Rebels will be relying on three seniors for leadership-Lauren Mellen, Marianne Morris and Margo Akin.
Mellen, a 1996 All-SEC performer, posted a stroke average of 80.77 in 1997, which was third on the team. She had one top 10 and four top 20 finishes last year. She finished fifth at the Lady Rebel Intercollegiate and shot a low round of 73 at the Auburn Tiger Invitational.
In the fall of 1997, Mellen captured the Tulane Green Wave Classic, the second title of her career. She also finished second at the Lady Rebel Intercollegiate and sixth at the Beacon Woods Invitational.
Morris played in four tournaments for the Lady Rebels last year, turning in a best performance of 83-89--172 at the Lady Rebel Intercollegiate. She participated in two tournaments in the fall of 1997 and shot a low round of 75 at the Lady Seminole Classic.
Akin is coming off a redshirt year. She played in one tournament in the fall of 1997, the Lady Rebel Intercollegiate, and posted scores of 84-84--168.
JUNIORS
Megan Breen and Anna Kirchner also look to lead the Lady Rebels to postseason play this year.
Breen, a two-time All-SEC performer, set a new Lady Rebel record with her 77.30 fall average. She also tied the record for the second-lowest single-round score with her 72 at the Beacon Woods Invitational and tied for first in lowest three-round score with her 221 in the same tournament.
In addition to setting those records, Breen, who was selected to two Academic All-America teams, posted three top 10 and five top 20 finishes in 1997 and finished second on the team in stroke average with a 78.66.
Breen won the Beacon Woods Invitational in the fall of 1997 (see top photo) and finished in the top five in three other tournaments.
Kirchner played in all 11 tournaments for the Lady Rebels last year and had a stroke average of 84.46. She participated in the Lady Seminole Classic and the Lady Rebel Intercollegiate in the fall.
SOPHOMORE
The lone sophomore on the team is Robyn Rinaldo, who is coming off an outstanding freshman campaign.
Rinaldo earned All-SEC honors after leading the team with four top 10 and six top 20 finishes. Her 78.25 stroke average was best on the team, and her 77.53 fall average ranked fourth in the Ole Miss record book.
In the fall of 1997, Rinaldo won the Lady Seminole Classic and finished fourth at the Tulane Green Wave Classic.
FRESHMEN
The Lady Rebels have three newcomers who will help them reach their goal of going to the NCAAs this year-Teresa Brown, Marci Kornegay and Annie Leigh Long.
In the fall, Brown participated in the Tulane Green Wave Classic. Kornegay played in four tournaments, and her best finish was a tie for 15th at the Lady Rebel Intercollegiate. Long participated in three tournaments, coming in 18th at the Tulane Green Wave Classic.
OUTLOOK
On Feb. 16-17, the Lady Rebels will compete in their first tournament of the spring, the FAU/UM Tournament in Miami, Fla. Following that tournament, Ole Miss will participate in the Lady Gator Invitational in Gainesville, Fla. (Feb. 27-March 1), the LSU/Fairwood Invitational in Baton Rouge, La. (March 13-15), the River Wilderness Invitational in Parrish, Fla. (March 23-24) and the SEC Championships (April 17-19).
The Lady Rebels will look to use their depth and experience to continue the success they have had every year. As the team gradually improves each season, the Lady Rebels move closer to their dream of reaching the NCAAs. If the Lady Rebels play with the intensity they showed in the fall, their dream will finally become reality in Durham at the NCAA East Regional May 7-9.
