If you haven’t heard, the Kent State women’s golf team has been nothing short of dominant in the last decade-and-a-half.

The team holds the current record for most consecutive Mid-American Conference Championships in any sport with an astounding 14 straight. That number is also good for the second-most consecutive MAC Championships of all time, trailing just the Eastern Michigan men’s swimming team with 17.

Head coach Mike Morrow can be credited with much of the women’s golf team’s success throughout his 15-year tenure.

Morrow built the women’s team when he took control in 1997, and has not looked back since.

It’s a new season of golf for the women’s team, though, and with it comes new challenges.

The loss of standout Mercedes Germino will be a tough one to overcome for the Flashes, but it is not insurmountable.

Germino was the 2011 MAC player of the year, and set a program record with a 74.27 stroke average. The Argentine native was one of the all-time great Kent State golfers, male or female, and will be sorely missed.

Yet the rise of sophomore Jennifer Ha and the rest of the lady Flashes should keep women’s golf fans’ hopes high.

Ha was named MAC freshman of the year in 2011, as well as being named to the 2011 All-MAC First Team.

Ha also won the Alberta Junior Girls Championship this past July and was able to collect two other top-five finishes in separate events.

The rest of the women’s golf team had a stellar summer offseason and look to put the Flashes on top of the MAC for the 15th consecutive season.

Sophomore Natalie Goodson became the 2012 Cleveland Women’s Golf Association’s district champion, along with winning the Kenny Novak Championship this past August.

Three outstanding freshmen will begin their Kent State careers this weekend, as well.

Josée Doyon, Tess Fraser and Brynn Schumacher all had impressive summers, and look to be integral parts of Coach Morrow’s team.

Add in the lone senior Jackie Yanch, and you’re looking at another MAC Champion-favorite Kent State team.

The women will begin their season Saturday at the Mary Fossum Invitational held in East Lansing, Michigan. The event will conclude Sunday.

Contact Rich Scheuermann at [email protected].