Green leads veteran team

The loss of Jayme Langford to graduation leaves some big shoes to fill for the women’s golf team in 2004, but, fortunately, the Dukes return the reigning Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year, senior Carol Green.

"She’s very hard to replace. I could always count on her to shoot me a good round," coach Paul Gooden said of Langford.

In the CAA Championships, Green shot a final round 69 and currently is ranked fifth all-time at JMU for stroke average with a 77.5. Last season, she recorded eight top-20 finishes.

"Our expectations are pretty high, but I knew we were going to be solid," Gooden said.

JMU opened its season Sept. 21, rallying from 13 strokes behind to win the NAPA River Grill Cardinal Cup.

Senior Meg Davies shot a 72, and Green posted a final round 70 while the team fired a final round 293, the second-best 18-hole total in JMU history to help the Dukes earn a come-from-behind win in Simpsonville, Ky.

Last season, the Dukes were held out of the NCAAs due to the strength of their schedule — or lack thereof. This year, the schedule has changed as it has the Dukes going up against some of the top teams around in the University of Tennesse, Louisiana State and Auburn University.

"Our schedule’s beefed up quite a bit," Gooden said. "Now our schedule is where we’re playing a lot of good teams."

The Dukes have plenty of experience to rely on. Green was one of five women invited to compete in Thailand in the off-season playing for the United States, where her team won an international title.

"You never know how it feels to represent your country until you see the flag being raised," Green said. "It still gives me chills."

Davies also participated in summer events, including the Virginia State Amateur and Women’s Eastern tournaments.

"We need to start out good and stay on the top," Green said.

While team goals tend to displace the individual goals of players, athletes often hold their expectations for themselves in the backs of their minds.

"My main goal is to consistently stay competing," Green said. "Every year I’ve improved here, and this year I want to make the big jump."

Davies said, "We know that if we do work hard we’re capable of going out and beating these big teams."

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