Ithaca Wins Team Title At Wittenberg WIth Record-Tying Performance
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio -- The Ithaca College women's golf team closed its fall portion of the schedule with another record-setting performance and earned a 12-shot tournament win at the Pat Clouse Invitational, hosted by Wittenberg. Ithaca defeated three teams that were ranked in the latest national poll and three others that were receiving votes in that poll.
Ithaca entered the final round two strokes behind first-round leader and tournament host Wittenberg, but the Bombers posted a school-record-tying single-round team score of 311 on Sunday for a two-day total of 627 and a convincing victory over DePauw (317-322--639) and Wittenberg (314-341--655).
Sharon Li (Happy Valley, Hong Kong/Hong Kong International) claimed tournament medalist honors with an exceptional 1-under-par 71 in Sunday's final round to win the individual honors. Ithaca's 627 total also tied its tournament low score, set earlier this season at the Empire 8 Championships.
DePauw was ranked fourth in the latest GolfWorld/WGCA Division III Coaches Poll, while Wittenberg was ranked 15th. The Bombers stood 11th in the coaches' poll and fifth in statistical team scoring average by Golfstat. Allegheny, ranked 25th in the poll, finished sixth overall.
Li opened the tournament with a 77 in the first round, then shot 71 on Sunday to finish first among individuals, a seven-shot victory over two players tied for second. All five Ithaca players in the scoring lineup finished in the top-10 in the overall standings.
Kimberley Wong (Shouson Hill Road, Hong Kong/German Swiss International School) and
Kelsey Baker (Hopkinton, Mass./Hopkinton) tied for fifth overall. Wong scored 81-78--159 and Baker went 79-80--159.
Amanda Failla (Unionville, Conn./Farmington) opened with an 80 and followed it up with an 82 for a 162 title and placed ninth.
Lisa Calcasola (Longmeadow, Mass./Longmeadow) tied for 10th overall with rounds of 80 and 83 for 163. Taylror Reeves competed as an individual and finished 50th with scores of 95 and 91 for a total of 186.
The tournament was held at the Springfield Country Club, which played to 5,800 yards and a par 72. A total of 15 teams and 77 individuals completed the tournament. There was one withdrawal and three players were disqualified.
Ithaca's victory was its third tournament title of the season, in addition to second-place finishes at Cortland and Mount Holyoke, and a third-place effort at Williams. In the spring, the Bombers will compete at Vassar, Amherst and Williams as they continue to pursue a bid to the NCAA Championships.
Complete Tournament Results