Teeing Up Opportunities for Women
After a month on the road caddying for his pro-golfing daughter, Hannah, Mark Berman ’83 organized the PXG Women’s Match Play Championship last year in response to the lack of on-ramps for female players who aspire to play in the LPGA. One thing led to another, and Berman ended up purchasing the Florida-based National Women’s Golf Association, a 16-year-old women’s tour, and rebranding it as the East Coast Women’s Professional Golf Tour. Although Hannah backed away from her pro ambitions, Berman is providing plenty of playing and earning opportunities for other professional female golfers.
Smart Stick-Wielders
Bowdoin lacrosse players Fiona Bundy ’18 and Sophia Schaefer ’18 learned this May that the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association named their Polar Bears an Academic Honor Squad (team members earned a GPA of 3.2 or higher) and that they both were on the DIII Academic Honor Roll, with GPAs of at least 3.5. Bundy ranks third in the league and was named First Team All-Pilgrim Region. Williams College lacrosse player Madison Fulcher-Melendy ’18 was also named a scholar athlete by the IWLCA.
Champion Stallions
Michael Dereus ’16 scored his first career touchdown for the Birmingham Stallions in May—and helped the team to its first championship in USFL history in July. The Georgetown-grad wide receiver came over from the Baltimore Ravens in April and has caught seven passes for 61 yards.
Winning Rugby Run
Jamaica hosted the 2022 Rugby Americas North tournament this summer and the USA South Panthers women’s team not only took the title, but beat their hosts 17-14. Stacia Thompson ’07, making her debut for the team this year, made a “blistering run” to extend the Panthers’ lead during the final, according to the Goff Rugby Report. Thompson also plays for the Charlotte Rugby Club and says she will “forever love this game for its simultaneous ferocity and camaraderie.”