‘Puppet Master’ Inspires Squad

Rarely do golfers acquire nicknames, but Harvard sophomore Emily Balmert merits this treatment.

Not for her superb play as of late, but for her epic, humorous stories that leave her teammates responding with much more than a subdued golf clap. Known as the “Puppet Master” to her teammates for her use grand gesticulations to augment her many words, Balmert combines a warm personality and strong on-course leadership to be a substantial contributor to the Crimson women’s golf team’s early tournament success this season.

Balmert entered her second season with the team at the pinnacle of the league. Despite winning the 2006 Ivy League championship tournament, Balmert did not rest on her laurels but used the summer to mature as a golfer.

“Whereas before I was sometimes trying to be aggressive and hit miracle shots,” she says, “now I’m playing golf smarter and focusing on keeping the ball in play and hitting fairways—and it seems to be working.”

At the Dartmouth Invitational two weeks ago, Balmert edged out tough competition from perennial contenders Yale and Princeton to capture the medal by a single stroke by firing a two-day 145 (+1).

Over the past two weeks, she finished tied for No. 6 and No. 4 at Princeton and Yale, respectively. In fact, going back to last season, Balmert has notched top-10 finishes her last five consecutive tournaments.

“Golf tends to run in up-and-down cycles,” coach Kevin Rhoads explains. “To be a little bit off on a down cycle means that scores can be up five to 10 shots. Someone who can be in [the] top 10 consistently can perform at a very high level, which can be difficult to do.”

Even though she only stands at 5’8, Balmert can unleash 240-yard bombs off the tee due to her mechanically sound technique, strength, and body balance.

In addition to Balmert’s excellent ball-striking ability and reliable short game, captain Jacqueline Rooney lauds her mental toughness and determination.

“When she won Ivies, there was something wrong with her feet,” Rooney says. “She basically couldn’t walk, but she went out there and brought her best game.”

This exemplary play is a big reason for the Crimson’s fast start this year, as Balmert has led Harvard to a season-opening team win at the Dartmouth Invitational and second-place finishes at Princeton and Yale.

Though only a sophomore, Balmert’s success on the links already translates into leadership by example.

According to Rooney, “When people start posting low scores, other players step up their game in accordance.”

Balmert’s improvement from last season gives the team’s three freshmen players a model for taking their games to the next level, especially once they have a year’s worth of collegiate-level experience. Noting the myriad time demands of college life that sometimes prevent student-athletes from devoting as much time to their sports as they did in high school, freshman Claire Sheldon sees Balmert as a “reassuring and positive role model who shows that a golfer can still improve her game even as she moves through Harvard.”

While players acknowledge that they best help the golf team when they focus solely on their own games during rounds, the Crimson women possess remarkable team cohesion.

In the words of Rhoads, “Balmert brings a sense of humility and a lively personality to the team. Most importantly, she realizes that right now she may be the highlighted member of the team, but her success and [the] supportiveness of her teammates epitomizes the opposite of the saying that nice girls finish last.”