Carleton Women Dominate MIAC Championship, Shatter Records in 66-stroke Victory

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  BECKER, Minn. – Setting a new 36-hole record through two rounds at the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women’s Golf Championship Sunday, Carleton College took a 40-stroke advantage to Monday’s final round and carded a team score of 302 to shatter the tournament record by 20 strokes claiming a 66-stroke victory at Pebble Creek Golf Club.
 
Monday’s victory marks the third time in five seasons the Knights have claimed the conference championship as Carleton earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championships next May.
 
“I cannot emphasize enough how amazing the depth of this team is,” Carleton head coach Molly Erickson said. “To have five players who are all capable of playing in the top spot on any given day lets these ladies play free of the stress or pressure to perform. Another day, another extremely proud coach.
 
Carleton’s mark of 299 during Sunday’s second round tied the second-best single-round score in MIAC Women’s Golf Championship history, matching Carleton’s 2014 final round score as the Knights fell two strokes short of the record, set during the second round by Carleton during the 2015 season.
 
The record-tying round marks the seventh time in program history the Knights have posted a team score below 300, five of which have occurred this fall.
 
“My goal for us each round—since the first tournament this fall—has been to break 300, and the ladies did it for the fifth time,” Erickson said. “To say watching them break records all season has been fun would be the understatement of the century.”
 
Senior Ziyi Wang, of Bejing City, led the way for Carleton as all five golfers claimed the top-5 spots—also a tournament first. Wang, the 2017 MIAC individual champion, successfully defended her title Monday, finishing the 54-hole championship at 5-over par 221, two strokes better than teammate Alyssa Akiyama.
 
Akiyama, a junior from Ohio, claimed medalist honors at the 2015 championship and bookended rounds of 75, while shooting her best round of the tournament during Sunday’s second round, shooting 1-over par 73.
 
Sophomore Abby Euyang’s final round of 77 Monday earned her third place at 231, one stroke better than teammate Ayumi Sakamoto, who finished alone in fourth place at 232. Sophomore Alexis Chan fired a 4-over par 76 to begin the championship Saturday, lost ground during the final two rounds, carding rounds of 79 and 80, respectively, to finish in fifth place at 235.
 
The College of St. Benedict posted a team score of 328 Monday to finish in second place at 970, one stroke better than Gustavus Adolphus College. St. Ben’s was led by senior Natalie Amundson, from Alexandria, Minn., who carded back-to-back rounds of 78 during the final two rounds to finish seventh at 239.
 
 
 
2018 MIAC WOMEN’S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
PEBBLE CREEK GOLF CLUB
BECKER, MINN.
5,873 YARDS, PAR 72
 
 
MONDAY’S FINAL TEAM RESULTS
1. Carleton College, 303-299-302—904
2. St. Benedict, 329-313-328--970
3. Gustavus Adolphus, 331-323-317—971
4. St. Catherine University, 328-328-329—985
5. St. Olaf, 342-333-329—1004
6. Bethel University, 356-335-322—1013
7. Macalester College, 357-339-352—1048
8. St. Thomas, 370-345-356—1071
9. Concordia-St. Paul, 359-355-361—1075
10. Augsburg College, 386-364-379—1129
11. St. Mary’s University, 398-414-373—1185
 
 
MONDAY’S FINAL INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
1. Ziyi Wang, Carleton, 73-74-74—221
2. Alyssa Akiyama, Carleton, 75-73-75—223
3. Abby Euyang, Carleton, 79-75-77—231
4. Ayumi Sakamoto, Carleton, 79-77-76—232
5. Alexis Chan, Carleton, 76-79-80—235
6. Nicole Miller, Bethel, 87-73-77—237
7. Natalie Amundson, St. Benedict, 83-78-78—239
T8. Emily Olson, St. Benedict, 80-75-85—240
T8. Ellie Brandt, Gustavus Adolphus, 77-80-83—240
10. Olivia Matzke, St. Catherine, 81-82-80—243
 
 
For complete tournament results go to:  http://results.golfstat.com/public/leaderboards/gsnav.cfm?pg=team&tid=16900