Experience Key as Women's Golf Opens 2024-25 Campaign Monday

Monday, September 2

West Lafayette, IN

Ball State University

Boilermaker Classic

Experience Key as Women's Golf Opens 2024-25 Campaign Monday

August 31, 2024 | Women's Golf

MUNCIE, Ind. - - When the Ball State women's golf program opens the 2024-25 season Monday at the Boilermaker Classic, there is one key component to the roster that has third-year head coach Cameron Andry truly excited about the upcoming year.

"We have some experience entering the season, which really hasn't been the case the past couple years," Andry said. "We have some upperclassmen who have been through the battles and have played a lot of tournament golf. I think that will serve us well."

In Andry's first season with Ball State in 2022-23, five of the seven players were in their first year with the program. Last season, four of the nine players were first-time Cardinals. This season, eight of the nine players have at least one year of experience under Andry's leadership.

The more experienced Cardinals will face a major test to start the year at the 6,299-yard, 72-par Kampen-Cosler Course at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex in West Lafayette, Indiana, as it joins a 15-team field which features three top 50 programs and nine top 75 programs from a season ago.

Scheduled to join the Cardinals (172) and host Purdue (31) are Michigan (41), Alabama (42), Georgia Southern (56), Minnesota (59), Indiana (61), Kent State (69), Western Kentucky (70), Notre Dame (75), North Florida (88), James Madison (96), Abeline Christian (112), Old Dominion (117) and Xavier (124).

The two-day Boilermaker Classic will have student-athletes teeing off at 9 a.m. Monday in a shotgun start and continuous play for two rounds. Tuesday's final round will feature another 9 a.m. shotgun start.

"We will have our hands full in this first event against some big-time competition," Andry added. "But we've had some great practices, and qualifying has seen some pretty solid golf, so I think we are ready."

Representing the Cardinals at the Kampen-Cosler Course will be juniors Madelin Boyd, Jasmine Driscoll and Sarah Gallagher, along with sophomore JJ Gregston and freshman Sophie Korthuijs. Ball State's golfers are slated to start on holes 13-15 and will be joined by players from Abilene Christian and James Madison.

Four of the five golfers helped establish a new program standard for scoring average at 303.61 strokes last season, which was nearly three strokes better than the previous mark of 306.59 set in 2020-21. They also helped the team establish program records for lowest team round (285 / -3), lowest 36-hole total (580 / +4) and lowest 54-hole total (865 / +1).

Driscoll led the Cardinals with a 75.48 scoring average last season, which was the fourth-lowest single season average in program history. Driscoll played in all 31 team rounds for Ball State last season, setting career low scores for a round (68), 36-hole event (150) and 54-hole event (216).

"This summer everyone put in different work in terms of improving their game, and I feel like it's really going to benefit us this season," Driscoll said. "Personally, I feel like my short game has improved a lot. Just working on trying to get out of a poor situation and trying to make par from wherever I can."

Gallagher was not far behind, averaging 75.84 strokes per round, which is the sixth-best mark. Gallagher was also named Second Team All-MAC honors, while earning MAC All-Tournament Team accolades after placing fourth at the league's premier event.

"I put in a lot of work on my wedge game, and I played in a lot of tournaments," Gallagher said about her preparation over the summer. "I also took some time to myself, which Coach Andry really wanted us to do. I relaxed, went to Italy, and had some fun. That's an important part, because we are in such a grind when we are here. Having a little down time is important too."

Gallagher, who owns seven career collegiate rounds at-or-below par, joined Coach Andry in her excitement about the team's returning experience.

"Having a lot of returners helps a lot," Gallagher added. "We've had young teams the past few years. Now we have more upperclassman and experience. Everyone knows what college golf is like and I think we can get down to it and do well."

The Cardinals are looking to use that experience, and the Boilermaker Open, to set the tone for what is scheduled to be a tough, yet fun, slate of tournaments in preparation for the ultimate goal; to win a Mid-American Conference Team Championship.

"We've got a great tournament lineup, and we will be tested, but that's the point," Andry said. "We are trying to be ready to go come late April at the MAC Championships. The whole season is a progression to get there."