Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.

First season for Yellow Jackets women’s golf begins this fall

Date: 6/5/2014

SPRINGFIELD – American International College formally announced the addition of a women’s varsity golf program, set to tee off in the fall of 2014.

Men’s head golf coach Frank Leja will kick-start the program, which will compete in the Northeast-10 Conference at the NCAA Division II level.  The program will be open to all current AIC students along with student-athletes that are recruited to the institution in the future.

Leja's goal is clear. “The idea is to start slow, but build to a very sustainable program,” he said.

“We view this as an expansion of our very successful men's golf program,” Executive Vice President for Athletics Richard Bedard said.

The Northeast-10 hopes to start with five or six women’s programs and would have its own championship tournament. The AIC schedule would be similar to that of the men's. 

“The growing interest in women's golf in the NE-10 means that the time is right and we welcome this new competitive opportunity for our own student-athletes,” Bedard said.

During the traditional and non-traditional seasons (fall and spring), the golf teams will practice at Ludlow Country Club. Ludlow CC has been the home course for the AIC men’s golf team over the past two years.  In the winter, when the temperature drops and the snow flies, the Yellow Jackets will head indoors where they have access to a practice facility with state-of-the-art simulators.

“I think this is a great opportunity for the institution to attract some of the best female golfers locally, nationally and internationally.  I am excited and confident that the women's golf program will prove to be very competitive,” Leja said.