Steenland, Weise earn top seed for Garden StateWomen’s Better Ball
PRINCETON >> Doreen Steenland and Linda Weisewere not factored in as medalist contenders for the Garden State Women’s Golf Association Team Better Ball Championship at Springdale Golf Club.
Surprise. The unexpected headliners stood atop the field during qualifying on Tuesday as Steenland and Weise delivered a 1-under-par-71 at the 5,546-yard, par-72 course. Steenland had a personal-best 73 and Weise thanked her lucky stars for a stud partner in a finish that gained awestruck responses from their golfing peers.
Steenland, a Spring Lake Golf Club member who finished runner-up to Kathy Melli in her club championship, posed a thought after she and Weise started with nine consecutive pars.
“Ifwe keep playing like this, we just might qualify for the Championship Flight,” Steenland said. Her birdie on the difficult No. 10 hole placed them 1-under and caused an immediate rewrite. “If we keep playing like this we could be leading the tournament. Seriously, this is unexpected. This was totally playing in the zone. I just saw everything clearly. Totally focused and lots of fun,” Steenland offered.
Fantastic times for Old York CC member Weise, too, as she begins an amateur golf career following a stellar high school and college basketball career followed by a 22-year stint as head coach for AllentownHigh School where she amassed a 329-223 record. Weise scored 1,328 points at McCorristin High and 764 points with 198 assists at Delaware. It’s just her second GSWGA event.
“I’m not used to getting props for golf,” Weise joked.
Weise started playing golf 21 years ago when she and husband Rich honeymooned in Hawaii. “Exactly twenty-one years ago from lastweek. Then I stopped for awhile to coach golf and raise our family. Then the kids started playing. And I just love this game becausewe play as a family. And I’ve always liked competition.”
The leaders carded a bogey-four at No. 11 then Steenland added a second birdie at No. 12, a parfive. Then all pars as the tandem notched 15 pars for a score that edged Sue DeKalb and Stephanie Harris by one shot.
Match play begins on Wednesday with morning and afternoon rounds as eight teams compete in the Championship and First Flight topped by Cathy Kitchen and Diane Ross (79) while six more play in the Second Flight headed by Sue Kowronski and Jesse Clancy.