At the start of the college season last fall, I tried to foresee what would take place in several of the higher profile conferences. I figured I'd go back and find out how I did ... you know just to keep myself honest.
Today we'll look at my predictions for women's golf. Next week I'll do the same on the men's side. Anything italic is a correct answer; anything with a line through it was a wrong answer.
ACC
Predicted champion:
Predicted player of the year: Amanda Blumenherst, Duke (shared with Wake Forest's Natalie Sheary)
Predicted freshman of the year:
NCAA Regional bound: Duke, Wake Forest, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida State (left out N.C. State)
Team on the rise: Wake Forest
Biggest question mark:
Wouldn't surprise me to see: Wake Forest and Virginia give Duke a run for its money at the ACC Championship.
Would shock me to see:
SEC
Predicted champion:
Predicted player of the year:
Predicted freshman of the year: Marta Silva, Georgia
NCAA Regional bound: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Auburn, Arkansas, LSU, Vanderbilt, Tennessee (Missed Mississippi, South Carolina and Kentucky)
Team on the rise: Alabama (T-2 at SECs)
Biggest question mark:
Wouldn't surprise me to see: Any of five different school wind up winning the conference title when all is said and done.
Would shock me to see: Any individual player dominate like Stacy Lewis of Arkansas did last season. (Schepperle was a model of consistency but has no wins on her resume.)
Big 12
Predicted champion: Oklahoma State
Predicted player of the year:
Predicted freshman of the year: Caroline Hedwell, Oklahoma State
NCAA Regional bound: Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Texas,
Team on the rise: Oklahoma State
Biggest question mark: Texas A&M (Finished second at Big 12s but it was one of only two top-fives for the Aggies)
Wouldn't surprise me to see: Oklahoma State's Caroline Hedwell, the British Ladies Amateur runner-up, actually grab not just top newcomer honors but also Big 12 POY.
Would shock me to see: Anybody but Oklahoma State and Texas A&M seriously vie for the conference title.
Big Ten
Predicted champion: Purdue
Predicted player of the year: Maria Hernandez, Purdue
Predicted freshman of the year:
NCAA Regional bound: Purdue, Michigan State, Ohio State,
Team on the rise: Purdue
Biggest question mark: Michigan State (One win, five top-fives in 10 starts)
Wouldn't surprise me to see: Hernandez become the first player in 13 years to three-peat as the conference's POY ... she's that good.
Would shock me to see:
Pac-10
Predicted champion: Arizona State
Predicted player of the year: Tiffany Joh, UCLA (None chosen yet)
Predicted freshman of the year: Carlota Ciganda, Arizona State (None chosen yet)
NCAA Regional bound: Arizona State, UCLA, USC, Arizona, Stanford, California, Washington, Oregon
Team on the rise: Arizona State ... no question about having a solid No. 5 player anymore.
Biggest question mark:
Wouldn't surprise me to see: Three different teams—ASU, UCLA and USC—be ranked No. 1 in the Golf World/NGCA coaches' poll at some point during the 2008-09 season.
Would shock me to see: The conference get fewer than eight bids to NCAA regionals.
Mountain West
Predicted champion: New Mexico
Predicted player of the year: Jodi Ewart, New Mexico
Predicted freshman of the year:
NCAA Regional bound: New Mexico, UNLV, TCU,
Team on the rise:
Biggest question mark: BYU ... Will miss departure of Juli Erekson. (Only two top-five finishes in 10 starts)
Wouldn't surprise me to see:
Would shock me to see: As the conference celebrates its 10th year, anyone from Wyoming joining Jordan Lintz, the individual winner at the first MWC championship in 2000.
Conference USA
Predicted champion:
Predicted player of the year:
Predicted freshman of the year:
NCAA Regional bound: UCF, East Carolina,
Team on the rise:
Biggest question mark: Tulsa ... lost a lot of veterans from last year's team. (Only two top-fives.)
Wouldn't surprise me to see:
Would shock me to see:
Big East Conference
Predicted champion:
Predicted player of the year: Cindy LaCrosse, Louisville
Predicted freshman of the year: Becka Huffer, Notre Dame
NCAA Regional bound: Notre Dame, Louisville
Big West Conference
Predicted champion:
Predicted player of the year:
Predicted freshman of the year: Lee Lopez, Long Beach State
NCAA Regional bound: UC Irvine, Long Beach State,
Mid-American Conference
Predicted champion: Kent State
Predicted player of the year: Kirby Dreher, Kent State
Predicted freshman of the year:
NCAA Regional bound: Kent State
Southern Conference
Predicted champion: Furman
Predicted player of the year:
Predicted freshman of the year: Maria Salinas, Chattanooga
NCAA Regional bound: Furman, Chattanoooga
Sun Belt Conference
Predicted champion: Denver
Predicted freshman of the year:
NCAA Regional bound: Denver
West Coast Conference
Predicted champion: Pepperdine
Predicted player of the year:
Predicted freshman of the year: Lisa McCloskey, Pepperdine
NCAA Regional bound: Pepperdine (Missed San Francisco)
Western Athletic Conference
Predicted champion: San Jose State
Predicted player of the year: Erica Moston, San Jose State
Predicted freshman of the year:
NCAA Regional bound: San Jose State,
TOTALS
Team champions: 9 correct, 5 wrong—64.2% success rate
POY: 6 correct, 6 wrong—50% success rate
Top Freshman: 6 correct, 7 wrong—46.1% success rate
Team on the rise: 5 correct, 2 wrong—71.4% success rate
Question marks: 4 right, 3 wrong—57.1% success rate
Wouldn't surprise me: 5 correct, 2 wrong—71.4% success rate
Would shock me: 4 right, 3 wrong—57.1% success rate
Rating
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