June 8, 2006
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University women's golf team celebrated it's 05-06 season last Friday with a banquet at Fiorillo's restaurant next to the SCU campus before returning to the Leavey Center team room for a video presentation and awards ceremony.
A highlight reel of the season, put together by Steve Nelson, father of golfer Jenny Nelson, kicked off the ceremony. The video featured the entire team and wrapped up the year perfectly. It was followed by an awards presentation and senior speakers.
Four awards were handed out during the banquet, the Coach's Award, Most Inspirational, the Bronco Spirit Award and the Most Valuable Player award.
Junior transfer Megan Stoddart was named SCU's 2005-06 MVP for her solid year on the links. Stoddart transferred to SCU from Hawaii this year and made a successful debut in red and white, winning her first collegiate event at the Boise State Invitational.
Stoddart led the team with a 77.16 scoring average and was named first-team All-WCC for her efforts at the WCC Championships in mid-April. She also became one of the program's first All-Scholar qualifiers.
"Megan thrives on competition and had a great year for us," said head coach Polly Schulze. "She was a great addition to the team and will undoubtedly make a huge difference for us again next year."
Three other student athletes qualified as All-Scholar as well, Nelson, Hilaire Fouts and Eriko Sato.
Sophomore Jennifer Sun was named the team's Most Inspirational Player. Nelson, in presenting her teammate with the honor, commented on how Sun never once uttered a negative word in the two years they have been on the team together. Schulze also had some words for Sun's inspirational play.
"Jenn has been working very hard to crack the top five and be a more consistent traveler, and as the team told her on Friday, she has done so with dignity and class," said Schulze. "Jenn has completely supported her teammates every step of the way and is a constant light for the team."
For the night's second award, senior Candice Palmer earned the Bronco Spirit Award for continually spreading Bronco spirit wherever she goes.
"She is very proud of her four years on the team and I feel that she will always spread Bronco Pride wherever she goes," Schulze said of the departing senior.
The Coach's Award is given to a student athlete who had a tough year but persevered and never gave up. For her dedication to SCU Golf and toughness, Samantha Trask was honored as Schulze's choice for the award.
Added Schulze about Trask's perseverance: "Samantha had a rough year all around but never eased up and never backed down from her commitment to the team. She selflessly just kept plugging along with a positive attitude."
The team's graduating seniors, Palmer, Sato and Whitney Saulsberry, all spoke about their time on the team and gave inspiring words to the returning players. Palmer, the team's outgoing senior captain, made jewelry boxes for the team with the SC logo on the top . The new Co-Captains for the 2006-07 season were named, and they will be Samantha Trask and Megan Stoddart. The evening was then wrapped up with a video tribute to the three seniors, Palmer, Sato and Saulsberry.
"This was a great year and the team looks forward to next year where we have set some very high goals for ourselves," Schulze said about the coming season. "They are all on board to work as hard as they need to work over the summer to make their goals a reality. This will be the most experienced team we've had coming into a season and I am very much looking forward to coaching them to new success."
