Season Preview: Women’s Golf preps for the upcoming 2018-19 campaign, aims for 11th upper-division finish in last 13 years at OAC Championships

ADA – The Ohio Northern women's golf team will have a slightly new look when they tee up for the first time during the 2018-19 campaign, seeking their 11th upper-division finish at the Ohio Athletic Conference Championships in the last 13 years under sixth-year head coach Chad Bucci.

Last year, the Polar Bears compiled a 27-18 overall record and wound up fifth at the Ohio Athletic Conference Championships.

"We only have two or three athletes from last year's starting five who will be returning this year to a team that underachieved last season," remarked Bucci. "However, I believe we have women in this program that have a ton of talent, and we are hopeful for a solid season."

Despite having few starters returning from last season's squad, Northern still boasts an experienced group of 10 previous letter winners, including three who are three-time lettermen.

Ohio Northern's top returner on the 2018-19 roster is former All-Conference honoree Lydia Cranmer (Farmington Hills, Mich./Ladywood).

The sophomore would lead the team last season with an 84.6 stroke-average in 16 rounds of action. She would conclude the season posting a third-place individual finish at the 2018 OAC Championships.

Three-time letter winners Caitlin Silva (Hilliard/Bradley), Suzanne Short (Findlay), and Alaina Mikolajewski (Piqua) will also return, providing experience and senior leadership.

Silva posted the third-best stroke-average (87.9) on the team during the 2017-18 season across all 16 rounds of play. Currently, she sits eighth all-time in ONU women's golf history for career stroke-average with an 89.9 mark.

Short returns only for the fall 2018 portion of the schedule as the senior prepares for an early graduation in December.

A season ago, she posted a career-best 88.4 stroke-average in 16 rounds, which ranked her fourth on the team behind Silva. In her time at ONU, Short has compiled a 90.2 career stroke-average in 45.5 outings, ranking her ninth all-time on the stroke-average listing.

Mikolajewski competed in six rounds last season and has played in 21.5 rounds of golf during her three-year career.

Coach Bucci will also welcome back junior Taylor Daniel (Columbia City, Ind.).

Daniel ended the previous season with a 94.1 stroke-average through 14 rounds of play. She served as a leader in the classroom, too, garnering 2018 WGCA All-American Scholar accolades along with Silva and Mikolajewski.

Lydia Shealy (Tiro/Buckeye Central), Allison Logue (Cincinnati/McAuley), Alexis Miller (Wayne/Elmwood), Angela Miller (Clarksville/Clinton-Massie), and Hayley Watkins (Bellefontaine) return to Northern looking to make an impact and become regulars in the starting five after previously lettering.

Bucci will add two freshmen to the 2018-19 squad, Emily McLaughlin (Bellefontaine) and Karlee Staugler (Saint Henry).

"I have a couple freshmen coming in that have both played against strong competition in high school, and I expect them to each compete for a spot in the starting five," Bucci stated regarding his recruiting class.

The 2018 fall slate, announced earlier this year, kicks off with the annual Polar Bear Fall Classic to be held at Colonial Golf Course on September 1 and 2. Tee times are scheduled for 10 a.m. and 9 a.m., respectively.

The Polar Bears will then travel to compete in the Ohio Wesleyan Fall Invitational, Heidelberg Fall Invitational, and Bluffton Fall Invitational. All three tournaments are scheduled to be two-day events.

The 2019 spring schedule will be announced at a later date.