The Blinn College women’s team is hoping to prove how quickly things can change from one season to the next.
After playing through the 2023 fall season with just four players, the Buccaneers are preparing to begin its spring campaign Monday, Feb. 26, with a revamped roster of six golfers.
The end-of-year additions of returning sophomore Natalie Peebles and international transfer Rattanavarin “Pai” Tassaneetipagorn to an already experienced roster has head coach David Johnson excited for what’s to come.
“Admittedly, we had a rough fall with just four players, but we were fortunate enough to add a couple of pieces before the start of this season and we’re looking forward to seeing what happens,” Johnson said. “With our mix of sophomores, and our freshman newcomers, I think we have an opportunity to be pretty good. I believe we have a good shot at taking this group to the national tournament.”
(Pictured: Blinn sophomore Emily Madeley)
Blinn opened the fall with a trio of returning sophomores leading the way in Emily Madeley, Krista Vasquez, and Kimberly Tiefenbach. Freshman Madison DeBarard rounded out that group. The return of Peebles, a 2023 NJCAA DI Women’s Golf Championship qualifier, and arrival of Tassaneetipagor, an impressive prospect from Phuket, Thailand, could be the key to a first-ever appearance at the national competition.
The Bucs missed a team berth at nationals in 2023 due to an unfortunate technicality during the NJCAA South District Meet. Instead, Peebles and sophomore two-time qualifier Holly Paterson earned individual trips to the tournament.
Peebles should bring invaluable experience to the Bucs, while Madeley’s six top-five tournament finishes from her 2022-23 seasons should give the team a sizable boost.
(Pictured: Blinn sophomore Natalie Peebles)
“We’re expecting big things from everybody, but you can’t ignore what the leadership of Emily and Natalie should do for us,” Johnson said. “We have some unknowns in Madison and Kimberly, but the work they’ve put in has us looking forward to what they can do. We’re ready to surprise some people this spring.”
Blinn opens play at the Claud Jacobs Invitational in Victoria, Texas, and will play four regular-season tournaments prior to the NJCAA District 4 Championship. The Bucs travel to Tyler, Texas, for the Tempest Invitational on March 4; they compete in the Hal Sutton Invitational on March 16 in Bossier City, LA; and they will host the Blinn Invitational on April 8 at the Brenham Country Club in Brenham, Texas. Blinn will then host the district meet on April 20.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 45 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
