The Loop
College preview 2006-07: ACC
Amazing as it seems, the 2006-07 college season is upon us. In the Sept. 1 issue of Golf World magazine, we've put together a package to help you get set for the coming year. Included is a story about what qualities are needed to have a successful golf team (Note: players don't always have to be best friends). Additionally, we have our annual top-50 Players to Watch section for both the men and women, as well as the preseason GW coaches' polls, which have defending NCAA men's champion Oklahoma State and women's champion Duke in the top spots.
To supplement the magazine's preview, though, I'm going to try to break things down further with previews of the top teams in the country by conference. Beginning today with the Atlantic Coast Conference, I'll look at team rosters and rank schools within the conference, as well as make predictions on players of the year and who'll advance to NCAA regionals come May.
Here is a schedule of the conference previews to help you find your favorite. Come back and see where we rank your school ... and don't be afraid to comment if you think I'm all wet.
Conference, Date
ACC, Friday, Sept. 1
SEC, Monday, Sept. 4
Big Ten, Tuesday, Sept. 5
Big 12, Wednesday, Sept. 6
Pac-10, Thursday, Sept. 7
Mountain West, Friday, Sept. 8
Conference USA, Monday, Sept. 12
Mid-American Conference, Tuesday, Sept. 13
West Coast Conference, Wednesday, Sept. 14
WAC, Thursday, Sept. 15
Best of the Rest, Friday, Sept. 16
ACC—Men
__ Predicted champion:__ Clemson
Predicted player of the year: Webb Simpson, Wake Forest
NCAA Regional bound: Clemson, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, North Carolina, Duke, Florida State, N.C. State, Maryland
__
2005-06 Accolades
Player of the year:__ Ryan Blaum, Duke
Freshman of the year: Cameron Tringale, Georgia Tech
Coach of the year: Bruce Heppler, Georgia Tech
ACC medalist: Cameron Tringale, Georgia Tech
All-ACC First team:
Brian Duncan, Clemson
Stephen Poole, Clemson
Ryan Blaum, Duke
Jake Grodzinsky, Duke*
Roberto Castro, Georgia Tech*
Kevin Larsen, Georgia Tech*
Cameron Tringale, Georgia Tech*
Martin Ureta, North Carolina*
Robert Riesen, North Carolina*
Stephen Lewton, N.C. State
Kyle Reifers, Wake Forest
Webb Simpson, Wake Forest*
__2006-07 Ranking:
NCAAs: T-7 ACC: 3rd
Events: 12 Wins: 1 (U.S. Collegiate)
Top-five finshes: 4
Seniors/starters lost: 3 (Martin Caralioto, Brian Duncan, Stephen Poole)
First event: Carpet Capital Collegiate, Dalton, Ga., Sept. 15-17
Returning players:
Nick Biershenk, Sr.—Did not play in 2005-06
Tanner Ervin, Jr.—73.57 SA; 1 top-10 in 9 starts
Vince Hatfield, Soph.—73.55 SA; 1 top-10 in 7 starts
Luke Hopkins, Soph,—75.83 SA; 2 starts
Ben Martin, R-Fresh.—Redshirted in 2005-06
David May, Soph.—74.26 SA; 2 top-10s in 11 starts
Phillip Mollica, Soph.—76.07 SA; 5 starts; 47th at Jerry Pate
Zack Siefert, Jr.—Did not play in 2005-06
Incoming freshmen:
Sam Saunders, Windermere, Fla.
Kyle Stanley, Bellevue, Wash.
__2. GEORGIA TECH
__
NCAAs: MC ACC: Co-win
Events: 13 Wins: 3 (Jerry Pate, Big Island, ACC)
Top five: 9
Seniors/starters lost: 2 (Mike Barbosa, Thomas Jordan)
First event: Carpet Capital Collegiate, Dalton, Ga., Sept. 15-17
Returning players:
Roberto Castro, Sr.—73.08 SA; 2 top-10s in 12 starts
Adam Cohan, Soph.—77.56 SA; 3 starts
David Dragoo, Soph.—76.5 SA; 2 starts
Taylor Hall, Soph.—74.44 SA; 2 top-10s in 9 starts
Kevin Larsen, Sr.—72.36 SA; 5 top-10s in 12 starts
Cameron Tringale, Soph.—72.19 SA; 6 top-10s in 12 starts; Win at Big Island, ACC
Incoming freshmen:
Daniel Bowden, Easley, S.C.
John Tyler Griffin, Wilson, N.C.
Chesson Hadley, Raleigh, N.C.
Paul Haley, Dallas
__
____[#image: /photos/55ad704cadd713143b42185e]|||Wake_forest_logo_1|||Coach: Jerry Haas, 10th year
NCAAs: T-3 ACC: 5th
Events: 14 Wins: 3 (Mattaponi Springs, Hootie at Bulls Bay, East Regional)
Top five: 9
Seniors/starters lost: 4 (Barr Blanton, Doug Manchester, Kyle Reifers, Alex Yates)
First event: International Collegiate, St. Andrews, Scotland, Sept. 1-3
Returning players:
Marc Gladson, Soph.—76.13 SA; 5 starts
Dustin Groves, Jr.—Did not play in 2005-06
Chris McCartin, Jr.—74.5 SA; 2 top-10s in 9 starts
Matt McLean, Sr.—76.0 SA; 1 start
Sean Moore, Sr.—74.33 SA; 1 top-5 in 12 starts
Webb Simpson, Jr.—72.25 SA; 4 top-5s in 13 starts
Chad Wilcox, Jr.—77.4 SA; 1 top-10 in 5 starts
Incoming freshmen:
Brendan Gielow, Muskegon, Mich.
Travis Wadkins, Houston
__4. NORTH CAROLINA __
Coach: John Inman, ninth year
NCAAs: MC ACC: Co-win
Events: 13 Wins: 2 (Schenkel E-Z-Go, ACC)
Top five: 10
Seniors/starters lost: 4 (Fernando Figueroa, Jonathan Jackson, Doug Kingston, Ted Smith)
First event: International Collegiate, St. Andrews, Scotland, Sept. 1-3
Returning players:
Reed Darsie, Sr.—74.78 SA; 3 starts
Ryan Holler, Jr.—75.0 SA; 1 start
David Holzworth, Soph.—Did not play in 2005-06
Chase MacFarland, Soph.—74.5 SA; 1 top-10 in 6 starts
Josh Moore, Jr.—Did not play in 2005-06
Wallace Palmer, Jr.—Did not play in 2005-06
Robert Riesen, Soph.—72.74 SA; 6 top-10s in 13 starts
Martin Ureta, Sr.—71.76 SA; 5 top-10s in 13 starts; Win at Adams Cup
Incoming freshman:
Michael Seducca, Orlando
__5. DUKE __
Coach: Rod Myers, 34th year
NCAAs: 12th ACC: 8th
Events: 13 Wins: 2 (Duke Classic, Western Intercollegiate)
Top five: 4
Seniors/starters lost: 2 (Ryan Blaum, Alex Wilson)
First event: Carpet Capital Collegiate, Dalton, Ga., Sept. 15-17
Returning players (all stats include starts on JV squad):
James Dickey, Sr.,—Did not play in 2005-06
Andrew Giuliani, Soph.—80.0 SA; 1 start
Jake Grodzinsky, Sr.—73.1 SA; 6 top-10s in 12 starts
Justin Hare, Soph.—75.3 SA; 3 starts
Clark Klaasen, Soph.—74.2 SA; 1 top-10 in 11 starts
Bryce Mueller, Jr.—75.9 SA; 6 starts
Skip Murphy, Jr.,—Did not play in 2005-06
Michael Quagliano, Jr.—75.6 SA; 9 starts
Michael Schachner, Jr.—76.4 SA; 9 starts
Incoming freshmen:
Jeff Edelman, Southlake, Texas
Brian Kim, Yorba Linda, Calif.
Adam Long, Defiance, Mo.
Eric Schultz, Raleigh, N.C.
__
Coach: Trey Jones, fourth year
NCAAs: DNP ACC: 6th
Events: 12 Wins: 0
Top five: 4
Seniors/starters lost: None
First event: Inverness Intercollegiate Championship, Toledo, Ohio, Sept. 11-12
Returning players:
Jonas Blixt, Jr.—73.19 SA; 2 top-10s in 12 starts
Song Jeon, Jr.—75.26 SA; 8 starts
Torstein Nevestad, Sr.—74.36 SA; 2 top-10s in 13 starts
Bradley Ruch, Sr.—76.22 SA; 3 starts
Tommy Rymer, Jr.—74.81 SA; 7 starts
Matt Savage, Soph.—73.76 SA; 1 top-10 in 11 starts
Nicholas Smith, Soph.—74.42 SA; 12 starts
Incoming freshmen:
Cameron Knight, Wesley Chapel, Fla.
Seath Lauer, Huntington, Ind.
__
Coach:__ Richard Sykes, 34th year
NCAAs: MC ACC: 4th
Events: 12 Wins: 0
Top five: 3
Seniors/starters lost: 3 (Taylor Crosby, Stephen Lewton, Banks Wood)
First event: Carpet Capital Collegiate, Dalton, Ga., Sept. 15-17
Returning players:
Darren Blair, Jr.—73.5 SA; 2 top-10s in 13 starts
Andrew Byrd, Jr.—Did not play in 2005-06
Kent Copeland, Soph.—Did not play in 2005-06
Chase Duncan, Jr.—74.0 SA; 1 top-10 in 4 starts
Garry Hill, Sr.—74.2 SA 2 top-10s in 10 starts
Jerry Richardson, Sr.—72.6 SA; 2 top-10s in 12 starts
Nathan Spoon, Soph.—74.0 SA 2 top-10s in 11 starts
Jace Strandberg, Jr.—76.1 SA; 1 top-10 in 4 starts
Wesley Tucker, Soph.—77.1 SA; 3 starts
Incoming freshmen:
Adam Hogue, Plymouth, Mich.
Brad Revell, Kingston, Ontario
__8. MARYLAND __
Coach: Tom Hanna, 16th year
NCAAs: DNP ACC: 7th
Events: 11 Wins: 1 (Furman Intercollegiate)
Top five: 8
Seniors/starters lost: 1 (John Eades)
First event: Mid-Pines Invitational, Pinehurst, N.C., Sept. 11-12
Returning players:
Hunter Bendall, Sr.—76.3 SA; 3 starts
Skip Clasper, Sr.—77.6 SA; 3 starts
Adam Cohn, Jr.—Did not play in 2005-06
Tully Coyle, Sr.—75.4 SA; 11 starts
J.J. Occi, Jr.—74.9 SA; 3 starts
Blaine Peffley, Sr.—72.3 SA; 3 top-10s in 6 starts; Win at Furman
Matt Schall, Sr.—74.9 SA; 1 top-10 in 8 starts
Tyler Witman, Sr.—74.2 SA; 2 top-10s in 11 starts
Incoming freshmen:
Tommy Hanna, Bozman, Md.
Brendan Tracy, New York
__9. VIRGINIA TECH __
Coach: Jay Hartwick, 24th year
NCAAs: DNP ACC: 9th
Events: 11 Wins: 0
Top five: 2
Seniors/starters lost: 2 (Joel Kraner, Sam Nicholson)
First event: Inverness Intercollegiate Championship, Toledo, Ohio, Sept. 11-12
Returning players:
Matt Boyd, R-Fr.—Redshirted in 2005-06
Chad Fultz, Jr.—76.0 SA; 1 start
Nick MacDonald, Jr.—74.18 SA; 11 starts
Will Oldham, Jr.—73.33 SA; 1 start
Ryan Sypniewski, Sr.—74.48 SA; 11 starts
Jurrian van der Vaart, Jr.—74.87 SA; 11 starts
Carl Wakely, Sr.—75.62 SA: 8 starts
Drew Weaver, Soph.—74.18 SA; 11 starts
Incoming freshmen:
None
__10. VIRGINIA __
Coach: Bowen Sargent, third year
NCAAs: DNP ACC: 10th
Events: 11 Wins: 1 (Mason Rudolph)
Top five: 2
Seniors/starters lost: 1 (William Byrd III, John Fizer, Carter Henderson, Eamonn McLoughlin, Brad Tilley)
First event: Scenic City Invitational, Chattanooga, Tenn., Sept. 11-12
Returning players:
Greg Carlin, Jr.—76.33 SA; 2 starts
Dan Gabel, Sr.—74.0 SA; 1 start
Daniel Kefale, Soph.—73.72 SA; 1 top-10 in 6 starts
Daniel McGurk, Sr.—76.11 SA; 3 starts
Andrea Signor, Sr.—74.0 SA; 1 top-10 in 7 starts
Conrad Von Borsig, Soph.—75.19 SA; 9 starts
Lee Yang, Jr.—77.33 SA; 1 start
Incoming freshmen:
Kyle Stough, Laurel, Md.
Preston Yates, Winston-Salem, N.C.
__11. BOSTON COLLEGE
Coach:__ Trevor Drum, eighth year
NCAAs: DNP ACC: 11th
Events: 10 Wins: 0
Top five: 1
Seniors/starters lost: 1 (Kyle Kelly)
First event: Mid-Pines Invitational, Pinehurst, N.C., Sept. 11-12
Returning players:
Eric Bjerke, Soph.—Did not play in 2005-06
Jim Granello, Jr.—77.46 SA; 10 starts
Phil Holden, Sr.—78.38 SA; 5 starts
Tim Holden, Sr.—81.08 SA; 5 starts
Bob Reed, Jr.—74.25 SA; 10 starts
Alex Snickenberger, Jr.—75.0 SA; 10 starts
Ryan Sturma, Sr.77.83 SA; 8 starts
Scott Yoon, Jr.—81.67 SA; 1 start
Incoming freshman:
Not available on website
ACC—Women
__2006-07 outlook
Predicted champion:__ Duke
Predicted player of the year: Amanda Blumenherst, Duke
NCAA Regional bound: Duke, Virginia, Wake Forest, North Carolina, Florida State, Maryland
__2005-06 Accolades
Player of the year:__ Amanda Blumenherst, Duke
Freshman of the year: Amanda Blumenherst, Duke
Coach of the year: Dan Brooks, Duke
ACC medalist: Amanda Blumenherst, Duke
All-ACC First team:
Amanda Blumenherst, Duke*
Anna Grzebien, Duke*
Liz Janangelo, Duke
Jennie Lee, Duke*
Jennifer Pandolfi, Duke*
Caroline Westrup, Florida State*
Katie Stepanek, Maryland*
Ann Laney, North Carolina*
Lauren Mielbrecht, Virginia*
Leah Wigger, Virginia*
Mandy Goins, Wake Forest*
Nannette Hill, Wake Forest*
2006-07 RANKING__
__
NCAAs: Win ACC: Win
Events: 11 __
Wins:__ 6 (Mason Rudolph, Lady Tar Heel, Stanford, Betsy Rawls, ACC, NCAA) __
Top-five finishes:__ 11
Seniors/starters lost: 1 (Liz Janangelo)
First event: Mason Rudolph Championship, Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 15-17
Returning players:
Amanda Blumenherst, Soph.—71.62 SA; 3 wins, 9 top-5s in 11 starts; Win at Mason Rudolph, Longhorn, ACC
Anna Grzebien, Sr.—73.55 SA; 3 top-5s in 10 starts;
Jennie Lee, Soph.—74.29 SA; 2 top-10s in 11 starts
Jennifer Pandolfi, Jr.—75.68 SA; 4 top-10s in 11 starts
Incoming freshmen:
Rebecca Kim, Tigard, Ore.
Yu Young Lee, Orlando
Alison Whitaker, Melbourne, Australia
__2. VIRGINIA
__
NCAAs: DNP ACC: 2nd
Events: 10 Wins: 0
Top five: 8
Seniors/starters lost: 0
First event: Mason Rudolph Championship, Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 15-17
Returning players (including JV tournaments):
Jennie Arseneault, Soph.—75.5 SA; 6 starts
Ashley Mayo, Sr.—83.75 SA; 2 starts
Kira Mayo, Sr.—84.0 SA; 2 starts
Lauren Mielbrecht, Jr.—75.6 SA; 4 top-10s in 10 starts
Lindsay Robinson, Sr.—78.0 SA; 1 top-10 in 6 starts
Sally Shonk, Sr.—77.7 SA; 4 starts
Kristen Simpson, Soph.—80.0 SA; 2 starts
Rachel Smith, Sr.—76.37 SA; 10 starts
Carly Truitt, Soph.—77.03 SA; 10 starts
Leah Wigger, Sr.—73.23 SA; 9 top-10s in 10 starts
Incoming freshmen:
Whitney Newhauser, Barboursville, Va.
__3. WAKE FOREST
__
NCAAs: 15th ACC: 3rd
Events: 11 Wins: 0
Top five: 6
Seniors/starters lost: 2 (Joy Juskowich, Julie McKenna)
First event: Mason Rudolph Championship, Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 15-17
Returning players:
Jean Chua, Jr.—76.29 SA: 1 top-10 in 10 starts
Jordan Craig, Jr.—79.35 SA; 6 starts; Win at Pfeiffer Invite (played as individual)
Laura Crawford, Jr.—77.76 SA; 11 starts
Mandy Goins, Sr.—74.59 SA: 4 top-10s in 11 starts
Nannette Hill, Soph.—75.15 SA; 4 top-10s in 11 starts
Maggie Simons, Sr.—76.06 SA; 1 top-10 in 11 starts
Incoming freshmen:
Jessica Boney, Wilmington, N.C.
Erin Boyle, Wellesley, Mass.
Rachel Cook, Baltimore, Md.
Laura Ormson, Granger, Ind.
Dolores White, Lakeland, Fla.
__4. NORTH CAROLINA
Coach:__ Sally Austin, 13th year
NCAAs: DNP ACC: 7th
Events: 10 Wins: 0
Top five: 1
Seniors/starters lost: 1 (Romi Irons)
First event: Cougar Fall Classic, Hanahan, S.C., Sept. 11-12
Returning players (include stats from JV team):
Shannon Boyle, Sr.—79.76 SA; 7 starts
Laura Caniff, Jr.—77.0 SA; 6 starts
Sydney Crane, Soph.—78.23 SA; 7 starts
Catherine Hofmann, Soph.—87.67 SA; 1 start
Lauren Hunt, Soph.—76.76 SA; 10 starts
Ann Laney, Jr.—75.93 SA; 1 top-10 in 10 starts
Collete Lowe, Jr.—81.0 SA; 2 starts
Katie Miller, Sr.—77.23 SA; 1 top-5 in 10 starts
Brittany Walker, Sr.—87.67 SA; 1 start
Incoming freshman:
Kate Thomas, Australia
__5. FLORIDA STATE
Coach:__ Debbie Dillman, 16th year
NCAAs: 16th ACC: 5th
Events: 11 Wins: 1 (Ryder Florida Collegiate)
Top five: 5
Seniors/starters lost: 1 (Caroline Larsson)
First event: Cougar Fall Classic, Hanahan, S.C., Sept. 11-12
Returning players (starts include JV appearances; top-5s/top-10s are varsity events):
Ashleigh Anderson, Jr.—86.67 SA; 3 starts
Whitney Brummett, Jr.—77.32 SA; 1 top-10 11 starts
Jaclyn Burch, Sr.—76.29 SA; 2 top-5s 11 starts
Lauren Cousart, Soph.—81.78 SA; 3 starts
Erica Gonzalez, Soph.—80.67 SA; 3 starts
Kim Haskins, Jr.—Did not play in 2005-06
Ashley Kemp, Jr.—81.0 SA; 3 starts
Michelle Steakin, Sr.—82.67 SA; 3 starts
Kayal Shaul, Sr.—78.32 SA; 9 starts
Caroline Westrup, Soph.—73.64 SA; 5 top-5s in 7 starts; Win at Liz Murphey
Whitney Wright, Jr.—80.17 SA; 8 starts
Sara Young, Soph.—82.78 SA; 4 starts
Incoming freshman:
Lacey Agnew, Jonesboro, Ga.
__6. MARYLAND
Coach:__ Jason Rodenhaver, eighth year
NCAAs: DNP ACC: 4th
Events: 11 Wins: 2 (Pinehurst Challenge, Lady Herd/El Diablo Intercollegiate)
Top five: 8
Seniors/starters lost: 0
First event: Cougar Fall Classic, Hanahan, S.C., Sept. 11-12
Returning players:
Kelly Calkin, Jr.—77.3 SA; 2 top-10s in 11 starts
Madeleine Lovette, Soph.—85.5 SA; 3 starts
Kelly MacWhinnie, Sr.—77.5 SA; 1 top-10 in 11 starts
Jessica Reno, Sr.—77.4 SA; 1 top-10 in 11 starts
Katie Stepanek, Sr.—75.4 SA; 5 top-10s in 11 starts; Win at Wolverine
Maggie Trainor, Sr.—Did not play in 2005-06
Katie Trotter, Jr.—76.8 SA; 3 top-10s in 11 starts
Carla Wasienko, Soph.—Did not play in 2005-06
Incoming freshmen:
Not available on website
__7. MIAMI (FLA.)
Coach:__ Lela Cannon, 24th year
NCAAs: DNP ACC: 8th
Events: 9 Wins: 0
Top five: 4
Seniors/starters lost: None
First event: Cougar Fall Classic, Hanahan, S.C., Sept. 11-12
Returning players:
Mandy Fricton, Jr.—80.33 SA: 2 starts
Anabelle Paulino, Soph.—80.74 SA; 7 starts
Urd Pedersen, Sr.—82.0 SA; 3 starts
Tiffany Prats, Sr.—77.67 SA; 9 starts
Josie Shinn, Sr.—76.0 SA; 3 top-10s in 9 starts
Jessic Steward, Jr.—76.48 SA; 1 top-10 in 9 starts
Hagen Weintraub, Jr.—78.19 SA; 1 top-10 in 9 starts
Incoming freshman:
None
__8. N.C. STATE
Coach:__ Page Marsh
NCAAs: DNP ACC: 6th
Events: 10 Wins: 1 (Papa John’s Collegiate)
Top five: 1
Seniors/starters lost: 2 (Lorraine Ballerano, Molly Birmingham)
First event: Cougar Fall Classic, Hanahan, S.C., Sept. 11-12
Returning players:
Stephanie Derrey, Jr.—76.26 SA; 10 starts
Lauren Doughtie, Soph.—78.53 SA; 5 starts
Lauren Harling, Jr.—78.67 SA; 4 starts
Nancy Mountcastle, Sr.—77.26 SA; 9 starts
Joanna Saleeby, Soph.—Did not play in 2005-06
Jessica Vincent, Jr.—78.88 SA; 10 starts
Incoming freshmen:
Not available on website
__9. BOSTON COLLEGE
Coach:__ Trevor Drum, third year
NCAAs: DNP ACC: 9th
Events: 9 Wins: 2 (Sacred Heart Invitational, Massachusetts State Invitational)
Top five: 4
Seniors/starters lost: 1 (Elizabeth Friel)
First event: Dartmouth Invitational, Hanover, N.H., Sept. 16-17
Returning players:
Emily Cannon, Soph.—80.39 SA; 8 starts
Kathryn Mohr, Soph.—84.13 SA; 8 starts
Katie Napleton, Jr.—85.67 SA; 8 starts
Lara Smilnak, Jr.—80.44 SA; 8 starts
Incoming freshmen:
Not available on website