Wang Leads Carleton to Perfect Fall Season and MIAC Conference Title

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  BECKER, Minn. – Led by junior Ziyi Wang, the Carleton College women’s golf team captured its second Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship Monday as Wang earned medalist honors by carding a 54-hole total 8-over par 224 at Pebble Creek Golf Club.

A year removed from being upset by two strokes, the Knights posted a conference record team score of 924 to earn a 19-stroke victory over the College of St. Benedict, with four Knights finishing inside the top-10 Monday as Carleton went undefeated during the fall season.

“We played some really great golf during long stretches every single day, and except for a short span today, really didn’t make any mistakes,” Carleton head coach Eric Sieger said.

Ziyi, from Beijing City, China, opened the championship Saturday with a round of 1-over par 73 and followed it with round of 74 Sunday. With a two-stroke lead over teammate Abby Euyang entering the final round Monday, Ziyi posted a 5-over par 77 to earn a three-shot victory over Bethel University’s Christine Piwnica and University of St. Thomas’ Emily Thul.

Setting the MIAC Championship 54-hole record with her performance this week, Ziyi becomes the fifth straight Knight to win individual honors at the event.

“I felt like Ziyi had a good chance to win this week,” Sieger said. “She came in on form and like how the course set up, and she proved me prophetic. But we won because everyone, up and down the lineup played solid all three days. We did an excellent job of minimizing mistakes and playing some really excellent golf.”

Euyang, a freshman from Seattle, Wash., fired rounds of 74 and 75, respectively, to begin the tournament and would finish fourth following a final-round 81 Monday.

Defending individual champion Alyssa Akiayama, a sophomore from Cincinnati, Ohio, rebounded from an opening-round 80 by shooting 76 during the second round Sunday before finishing tied for ninth with teammate Ayumi Sakamoto.

With the performance this week, Carleton claims the automatic bid to the NCAA Championships in May, making a third appearance in the last four seasons.

“We’ll enjoy this win, but we’re excited about the spring season and what this group could do at nationals,” Sieger said. “We have four players on our roster with NCAA experience, so they know what it takes to be successful at nationals.”



2017 MIAC WOMEN’S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
PEBBLE CREEK GOLF CLUB
BECKER, MINN.
5,802 YARDS, PAR 72


FINAL TEAM RESULTS
1. Carleton College, 305-304-315—924
2. St. Benedict, 320-307-316—943
3. St. Thomas, 321-309-322—952
4. St. Catherine, 320-320-326—966
5. Gustavus Adolphus, 330-316-329—975
6. St. Olaf, 324-328-328—980
7. Bethel University, 336-325-333—994
8. Concordia College-Moorhead, 362-351-359—1072
9. St. Mary’s, 397-384-378—1159
10. Augsburg College, 401-380-411—1192


FINAL INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
1. Ziyi Wang, Carleton College, 73-74-77—224
T2. Christine Piwnica, Bethel Univ., 78-74-75—227
T2. Emily Thul, St. Thomas, 77-74-76—227
4. Abby Euyang, Carleton College, 74-75-81—230
T5. Natalie Amundson, St. Benedict, 78-75-80—233
T5. Bridget Amundson, St. Benedict, 82-74-77—233
7. Sydney Busker, St. Catherine, 81-71-82—234
8. Alyssa Akiyama, Carleton College, 80-76-79—235
T9. Ayumi Sakamoto, Carleton College, 78-79-79—236
T9. Madeline Pagel, St. Benedict, 78-79-79—236


For complete tournament results go to:  http://results.golfstat.com/public/leaderboards/gsnav.cfm?pg=team&tid=14179