UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's golf team opens its 2024 Spring season in Rexford, NY for the NWGC Championships at The Edison Golf Club. The team will compete on Saturday, April 20 and Sunday, April 21, both at noon.
Last Time Out: The Utica University Pioneers women's golf team completed round two of the Northeast Women's Golf Conference Championship on October 1.
Carly Stefanini (Framingham, MA/Brooks School) led Utica in the second round of the Conference Championship shooting an 87, ten-over-par. Stefanini shot a 44 on the first nine holes and on the fourth hole, she shot a birdie on a par five. Stefanini would go on to shoot another birdie on a par five on the 12th hole on the back nine.
Riley Morris (Buffalo, NY/Lancaster) completed day two keeping pace with Stefanini shooting a 91.
Paige Graves (Syracuse, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius) was eight strokes behind shooting a 99.
Angela Hawthorne (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer) rounded out the Pioneer scorecard with a 107.
Last Spring: The Pioneers placed fourth last season at the NWGC Championships with 748 strokes.
Playing Field: The Championships will feature 14 schools across New York State and the New England area. SUNY Canton, Cortland State, SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY Geneseo, Husson College, Keene State College, Keuka College, Manhattanville University, Mount St. Mary College, Nazareth University, St. John Fisher University, Suffolk University, Utica University and Westfield State University.
Lineups: Four golfers will attend the Championship:
Carly Stefanini (Framingham, MA/Brooks School),
Paige Graves (Syracuse, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius),
Riley Morris (Buffalo, NY/Lancaster) and
Angela Hawthorne (Santa Clara, CA/Meijer).
Fall Success: The team compiled two first-place finishes in back-to-back meets in the fall. First, at the SUNY Poly Invitational on September 25, then in a head-to-head against Nazareth University on September 28. Stefanini had a dominant day at the Poly Invitational as she marked her name in the program record with an 80, 8-over-par to win the event, which is the top score in Utica women's golf history. Morris and Stefanini had Utica's top finishes at the NWGC Fall Classic. Morris scored an 89 and Stefanini followed that up with an 88. On day two, Morris had the team's best score with a 91.
Championship Course: The Edison Club golf course was laid out in 1926 by the legendary Devereux Emmet, whose other creations include Congressional Country Club, host to three U.S. Opens and a PGA Championship. The Edison Club golf course offers a pretty park-like setting, with many of the holes lined by mature trees.
