May 5, 2009

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Junior Taylor Lee has been elected Yale's 2009-10 women's golf captain. The announcement was made Friday at the team's annual post-season banquet.

"It's such an honor to be elected captain knowing that the team has the trust and confidence in me to lead them next year," said Lee.

Lee, a Lafayette, Calif., native and member of Saybrook College, appeared in six tournaments for the Bulldogs this year. Her best finish came at the Eagle Landing Invitational in March, where she led the Bulldogs to finish in a tie for 10th. Lee averaged 78.79 shots per round this season with a low-round of 72, also at Eagle Landing.

Lee will be the lone senior on the team next year, but she will be helped by three of the five members of this year's Ivy League team. Sophomores Cassie Boles, Harriet Owers-Bradley and Alyssa Roland all return to help the team in their quest for an Ivy League Championship.

Lee has had the opportunity to learn from three captains before her, including Cindy Shin '07, Ellie Brophy '08 and outgoing captain Natasha Spackey '09.

"I've learned a lot from the captains before me," said Lee. "Their dedication to the team has been tremendous and their ability to make people play to their potential is something that I admire and hope to achieve next year."

Freshman Lily Boettcher was the recipient of the Widdy Neale award at the banquet. The Widdy Neale Award is awarded annually to the player who did the most to boost the morale of the team and who went the extra step both on and off the course.

Yale finished the season with two tournament wins at the Xavier Invitational and Winthrop Intercollegiate and an individual victory by freshman Callie Kemmer at the Nittany Lion Invitational. But the Bulldogs came up short at the Ivy League Championship, finishing in second, something Lee hopes to change.

"I'm excited to work hard and accomplish our main goal of winning Ivies next season," said Lee. "We came really close this year, which just shows how much potential the team has."

Report filed by Charles Moore '10, Yale Sports Publicity