A year from now, Duke senior-to-be Jennifer Pandolfi could be the answer to an interesting question: Who is the only player in women's college golf history to have been on four different NCAA championship teams?
Serious, would you bet against the Blue Devils making it four in a row next May in Albuquerque? Not unless two-time national player of the year Amanda Blumenherst suddenly decided to turn professional, something she insists won't happen. Duke is too deep to bet against at this point and until proven otherwise, I'm not sure anyone else is quite ready to stand up against the Blue Devils. If anything, this year they might separate themselves from the rest of the competition even more.
All that said, here's a peek at what we might see next season. One school missing from my top-10 is Georgia, although yesterday's hiring of former UGa player Kelley Hester as its new coach certainly puts the Bulldogs on solid ground for the coming season. It's just that Hester must replace Taylor Leon and Whitney Wade, a tough task for anyone.
My VERY, VERY, VERY early top 10 for the 2007-08 season:
1) Duke (NCAA finish: Win)
The Blue Devils' dynasty doesn't seem to have an end as Dan Brooks' squad loses former NCAA individual champion Anna Grzebien to graduation but brings in AJGA standout Kimberly Donovan. With Blumenherst seemingly on a different plane than her fellow collegians, Duke will contend again … and Pandolfi can fulfill the trivia question above.
2) Arizona State (NCAA finish: 13th)
An impressive 2006-07 season ended with four confounding days in Daytona Beach last month when the Sun Devils couldn't get any rhythm. The top four of Melissa Luellen's five starters are back, however, including first-team All-Americans Anna Nordqvist and Jennifer Osborn. Something tells me ASU's plight at nationals will serve as motivation this upcoming season. Meanwhile, incoming freshman Ashley Smith, who hails from the Xavier Prep, Scottsdale's high school golf power that also produced Duke's Blumenherst, could very likely sure up the No. 5 spot that Luellen's squad had trouble in 2006-07.
3) UCLA (NCAA finish: third)
The Bruins made an impressive turnaround from the start of the season to their showing at LPGA International. More importantly, they've laid the ground work for continued success in 2007-08. Expect Tiffany Joh to continue her All-American play and look for Sydnee Michaels to improve on a so-so freshman season (she's too talented not to). While needing to replace outgoing senior Hannah Jun, incoming freshman Maria Jose Uribe and Glory Yang provide much needed depth to Carrie Forsyth's roster.
4) Purdue (NCAA finish: second) 
The tough part of the 2006-07 season for the Boilermakers was comparing it to the their breakout 2005-06 season, where Purdue won six times. But the impressive performance at the NCAA Championship, the school's best ever, bodes well for Devon Brouse's team. First-team All-American Maria Hernandez is a gritty, determined player, and Christel Boeljon showed her talent at nationals. Mid-year addition Stefanie Endstrasser from Austria also gave Purdue a boost that will serve the team well next fall.
5) Oklahoma State (NCAA finish: T-14) 
It was a inconsistent 2006-07 for the Cowgirls, but the reason I like them to play well next year is simple: When OSU is on its game, it can post some pretty low scores. Pernilla Lindberg might be among the best players in college golf that no one has really heard of yet (see West Regionals; All-American selection). If Aussie Kristie Smith does make it to Stillwater this fall, and she's half as good as advertised, the inconsistent might be fixed.
6) Arizona (NCAA finish: T-14)
Can you blame Greg Allen if he stops trying to recruit the most talented players in the country? For the second time in three years, he lands the top junior in her class—Esther Choe—only to have the player decide she's turning pro after singing her letter of intent (previously it was Julieta Granada). The Wildcats are stuck because there isn't anyone else available to give the scholarship too. The silver lining? Allen's current team is an experienced bunch with talent in seniors-to-be Alison Walshe and Mary Jacobs and junior-to-be Adriana Zwanck leading the way.
7) Florida (NCAA finish: Did not play) 
The Gators looked like they were on a roll heading into West Regionals, having finished first or second in four straight events, only to miss out on advancing to nationals by two shots. Still, Jill Briles-Hinton doesn't lose any seniors (only question is whether Mallory Blackwelder transfers to Kentucky to play for her mom, Mira, the Wildcats' newly named coach) and has first-team All-American Sandra Gal to lean on once again.
8) Southern California (NCAA finish: fourth)
The Trojans lose a pair of seniors in Veronica Felibert and Catalina Marin who each were fixtures in their lineup, although the emergence this season of first-team All-American Paola Moreno and having Spanish sensation Belen Mozo on campus for an entire season should allow Andrea Gaston's squad to remain a threat nationally. That said, USC needs better play than it got from 2006 NCAA champion Dewi Schreefel in 2007.
9) Tennessee (NCAA finish: T-17)
Marci Turner, Nicole Smith and Angela Oh provide the Lady Vols with a strong threesome at the top of the line-up. If Judi Pavon can get something out of the No. 4 and 5 spots, Rocky Top looks solid. Only fear regarding Tennessee is that they can seem lackadaisical at times.
10) Auburn (NCAA finish: ninth) 
The Tigers seemed flat at nationals and must replace senior standout Nicole Hage. Look for Margaret Shirley and Candace Schepperle to take on leadership roles and for Marisa Milligan to continue to impress.
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