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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – The 2023-24 season was one to remember for the Williams College women's golf team.
The Ephs finished first as a team in 6-of-10 tournaments, while recording a second-place finish out of 18 at the Jekyll Island Intercollegiate.
The Ephs won the NESCAC Championship, as
Gio Kim earned medalist honors with a score of 69-75-144. The round of 69 was the lowest single round by any competitor during the two-day tournament, as
Emma Abramson (73-74-147) and
Victoria Kim (74-77-151) finished second and third, respectively. Williams placed 10th overall during the NCAA Division III Championship.
"Being on this team has allowed me to find some of my best friends who share a similar love for the game," said Abramson. "It is great to be part of an environment where everyone looks out for one another and wants each other to do their best. We enjoy supporting each other academically and athletically and having team dinners and finding the closest post-round Dairy Queen when we are on the road. Following an airplane issue, the unexpected 12-hour drive to Kentucky for Nationals was definitely memorable. We are lucky to have two great coaches, Coach Tomas and Coach Kangas, who motivate us and are dedicated to this team."
The Ephs return an abundance of talent, including Abramson,
Natalie Cheong,
Maryanne Grace,
Gio Kim,
Victoria Kim,
Euna Lee and
Jackie Lu. The program welcomes first year
Michelle Ding.
Gio Kim was named NESCAC Golfer of the Year and a First Team All-Conference selection last spring. Abramson took home the conference's Rookie of the Year accolade, while being named to the All-Conference First Team alongside
Victoria Kim and Lee. Head Coach
Tomas Adalsteinsson earned NESCAC Coach of the Year laurels. During the 2024 fall season, Adalsteinsson will be on sabbatical and Williams' men's ice hockey head coach
Bill Kangas, who served as an assistant women's golf coach last season, will be the program's leading voice.
"We are excited for the upcoming fall season," said Kangas. "With seven student-athletes returning, along with a talented first year, we are motivated, focused and determined, yet respectful of the level of individual commitment and performance necessary for our team to compete nationally."
This fall, the Ephs are scheduled to compete in five tournaments, as they open the season with the Bowdoin Invitational on Sept. 14-15 in Brunswick, Maine. The squad travels to Middlebury, Vermont, for the Middlebury Invitational on Sept. 21-22, and then returns home for the Williams Invitational on Sept. 28-29 at Taconic Golf Club.
On Oct. 5-6, the Ephs take their talents to the Hamilton Invitational in Rome, New York, and then finish off with the Golfweek Division III Fall Invitational on Oct. 13-15 in Destin, Florida.
"Right now, we are only focused on our first team practice," said Kangas. "We understand the importance of the process, the day-to-day enjoyment of positively working diligently together, being individually accountable and building upon our common team goals. By appreciating this daily process and the many individual moments we will experience together, it will have a positive impact on the overall development of our team."
During the 2023-24 season, Cheong, Grace, Abramson, Lee,
Gio Kim and
Victoria Kim earned Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American Scholar Team recognition.
Gio Kim was named a Second Team All-American by the WGCA, while Abramson and Lee were recognized as Honorable Mention All-Americans. Adalsteinsson was named East Region Coach of the Year.
In addition to winning the conference title, the Ephs won the NESCAC Fall Qualifier, Williams Invitational, George Phinney Classic, Little Three Championship and Cortland Martin/Wallace Invitational.
Abramson was fantastic during her rookie season, carding 70s in 16-of-18 rounds, including season-low rounds of 72 twice. During the Jekyll Island Intercollegiate, she earned medalist honors with a 79-72-72-223 score, while placing in the top-five overall in three other tournaments.
"Coming off the 2023-24 season, our team was proud of how we progressed throughout the year leading up to a great performance at the conference championship, winning by 32 strokes," said Abramson. "It was a great experience at Nationals in Lexington, Kentucky, to play in such a competitive atmosphere. It was an honor to be out there representing Williams and the team's 10th-place finish only makes us more determined for the upcoming season to strive for a national championship. From the fall to the spring season, I was more confident out on the course with balancing school, life and golf."
Gio Kim, who served as a captain in 2023-24, finished in the top-five overall three times, as her round of 68 on Sept. 23 at the Williams Invitational was the lowest by any team member during the season. The Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, native shot in the 60s three times and 70s in nine rounds.
Lee was the only Eph to earn medalist honors at two tournaments, placing first during the Williams Invitational (76-72-148) and NESCAC Fall Qualifier (72-73-145). She tallied 70s in 16-of-19 rounds.
Victoria Kim finished in the top-five overall in two tournaments, as she placed in a tie for fifth during the Cortland Martin/Wallace Invitational, shooting a 74. During 11 rounds, she posted scores in the 70s.
Grace, who hails from Rye, New York, was the team's top-performer and placed fourth during the Amherst Invitational (76-74-150). She registered 70s in 7-of-10 rounds. Cheong recorded a season-low round of 76 on Day 2 of the Jekyll Island Intercollegiate and a season-best, two-round score of 161 (79-82) in the George Phinney Classic. During the Williams Invitational, Lu posted a season-low round of 73 on Day 1 and a season-best, two-round score of 152.
At the end of 2023-24, the Ephs lost senior captains
Aishvarya Bedi and
Tianyi Zhuang to graduation. Both student-athletes had an immense impact on the program.
Zhuang tallied a season-low round of 73 on Day 1 of the NESCAC Championship. During the Williams Invitational, she placed in a tie for third with a season-best, two-round score of 151 (76-75). Bedi finished with a season-low single round of 80 during Day 2 at Jekyll Island Intercollegiate and a season-best, two-round score of 163 (82-81) during the Williams Invitational.
Kangas talked the mindset of the team heading into the 2024 fall season.
"The summer allowed the student-athletes time to decompress, spend time with families and friends, individually build their training routine and prepare for our entire upcoming season," he said. "Since every player values their role and position on our team, we know that everyone is anxious to demonstrate to their teammates how well-prepared they are, how focused they are, how encouraging and supportive they are and how excited they are to set and build upon our very high team standard, always encouraging the best from one another."
