DELMAR, N.Y. — Leading host Albany and the rest of the Division I field of nine teams by a stroke entering the second of the Doc Sauers Invitational, the Williams women's golf team were just strokes off its first-round result with a 21-over 301 on Monday. But the Great Danes tore up the course, carding a 2-under 278 to win the tournament at 18-over par (578) 20 strokes ahead of Seton Hall, which in turn just nipped the third-place Ephs by two strokes.
Three Williams golfers shot a 5-over 75 on the 5,888-yard, par-70 course at Normanside Country Club, including first-year Angela Nip, who entered the atop the individual leader board at 1-under. She could not fend off Albany's Madison Kuratani, however, who produced the low round of the tournament with a 4-under 66 today. Kuratani claimed medalist honors at even par, four strokes ahead of Nip and Lorena Rossettin of Rutgers.
Nip had one birdie and a dozen pars in her round while her classmate, Sadie Wu, had one birdie and 11 pars in finishing 5-over on the day and 14-over for the tournament, tied for 23rd in the 59-player field. Senior Natalie Cheong was the other Eph to shoot 5-over today thanks to three birdies on her card.
Cheong finished up tied for 18th overall at 11-over par along with her classmate Emma Abramson, who was 6-over on the day with a birdie to her credit. The other player in the Eph contingency was senior Maryanne Grace, who sank two birdies in shooting a 77 (+7) in her final round.
"This was such a great experience for the team," Williams Head Coach Tomas Adalssteinson said following the tournament. "They did well managing their game and the course. While it didn't quite click for us, it was a good showing overall. I'm really happy for Angela on her tying for second."
The women will wrap up their fall schedule tomorrow at the Ekwanok Sap Bucket Challenge in Manchester, Vermont, at the Ekwanok Country Club.
