2012 Empire 8 Women’s Golf Championship Preview
ROCHESTER, NY – The 2012 Empire 8 Athletic Conference Women’s Golf Championship will take place this weekend with the conference team championship on the line. Individual Empire 8 medalist honors will also be up for grabs at the two-day, 36-hole event, which will be held Saturday and Sunday at Mark Twain Golf Course in Elmira, NY.
The top five scorers at the end of the tournament will earn first-team all-conference honors with the next five finishers being named to the second team.
Again in 2012, the conference championship conversation starts with Ithaca College, winner of the last three Empire 8 titles. The Bombers enter the Championships with all six players on the roster from last years championship. Headlining the all-star cast is Sharon Li, the 2011 Empire 8 Rookie-of-the-Year. Li tied for first in the overall conference championship, but lost a three-hole playoff a year ago.
St. John Fisher will have to do without two-time Medalist/Player of the Year, Alex Battle due to graduation. Senior Katie Joslyn, all-conference selection in 2011, returns to lead the way for a young Cardinal line-up.
Jessica VanLeuvan and Briana MacDonald return to lead the way for first year Elmira Head Coach Tim Crowley. VanLeuvan and MacDonald finished 11th and 13th, respectively, at the 2011 Championships.
Sophomore Jennifer Lachell is the top returner for Nazareth. Lachell was a second team All-Conference selection last season and will be in the mix for a repeat honor.
In the team competition, Ithaca is the favorite again by the numbers. Last season, Ithaca's team score of 654 placed ahead of St. John Fisher (754), Elmira (787) and Nazareth (848). New to the course this year will be the Houghton Highlanders. The Championship will serve as the first round of the play for the Highlanders in 2012.
Please continue to check
www.Empire8.com for complete information, including scoring updates, official results and more.