Waynesburg University’s women’s golf team competed in two matches this past week at Bethany and Westminster. With only four players on the roster, more attention is focused on freshmen Julia Clement and Abigail Noble. 

Head Coach Mike Cipoletti specifically praised the freshmen on their performances. 

“Determination, persistence and improvement,” Cipoletti said. “For first year players, it’s all about experience and getting used to the college game. Abigail and Julia are really working hard and learning a lot.”

Noble, who’s coming off  wrist surgery she received over the summer that prevented her from playing, is using the fall season to regain her form.

“I am looking forward to building my wrist strength up as well as being more competitive in my golf game,” Noble said, with the extra repetitions helped Noble pick up her best scores of the season to date. 

“I think she’s just now feeling comfortable hitting full shots,” Cipoletti said 

The highlight of the week was by junior Maeve Hanley, who parred the 313-yard par-4 hole at Westminster on Saturday, Sept. 14. Cipoletti is especially impressed with her approach on that hole. 

“She played the hole like it’s supposed to be played, stripped a drive about 280 yds,” Cipoletti said. “Had about 81 yards to the flag. Put her approach on the number to about twelve feet. Hit a great lag putt for a tap in par. Textbook.”

 According to Noble, getting to learn from a veteran in Hanley while navigating the new landscape has been helpful for her. 

“Maeve has been a wonderful mentor as well as she has helped make this transition easier,” Noble said. “I am so grateful to have an upperclassman teammate who is so willing to lend advice and a kind ear.”

Noble and Clement competed in the Bison Invitational on Sept. 10, with the former scoring 132 while the latter earning a 136. 

In the Westminster Invitational on Sept. 14, Hanley led the Yellow Jackets with a 108, Noble carded a 111 and Clement a 124. 

Those were the best scores for all three women on the season, leavingCipoletti had a simple sentiment.

“Improvement and another college round of experience in the books,” Cipoletti said regarding their scores. 

In her first season, a challenge that Noble has automatically is the fact that she’s never played on many of the courses. 

“It was my first time playing at Avalon New Castle Country Club, so I was a little nervous as well as some of the greens were tough,” Noble said regarding her performance Saturday. “But once I started playing, I got into a groove.”

It was also the first time Noble’s seen a format like she did Saturday. When she was at McGuffey, the team she was on was co-ed.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to compete against and make friends with these women golfers,” Noble said of the new format. 

Waynesburg has a nine-day break, and Cipoletti outlined what he would like to see during that longer layoff.

“Just getting reps in at the swing lab and making sure their academics are where they need to be going into the mid-term,” Cipoletti said. 

Waynesburg participates in the penultimate match of the fall season in Saint Vincent on Sept. 23.