2014 Empire 8 Women's Golf Championship Preview
Empire 8 Championship Site
Live Stats (should occur after holes 4, 9, 13 and 18).
The 2014 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 2014, the conference championship conversation starts with Ithaca College, winner of the last four Empire 8 titles. The Bombers enter the Championship with three players from last year's scoring lineup.
Headlining the all-star cast is senior Sharon Li, the 2012 and 2013 Empire 8 Player-of-the-Year. Li won the E8 championship last year by six strokes and continued to have a stellar season. Senior Kelsey Baker (third in 2013) returns for her final season and is coming off her career best finish of a 153 (77-76) at the St. Lawrence Invitational. Sophomore Kimberley Wong, 2013 Rookie of the Year, shot back-to-back rounds of 81 a year ago.
Seniors Cassidy Delainey and Alyssa Lustenring return as seasoned veterans for Elmira and will lead a young team comprised of six underclassman. Second-year golfer
Keira Glasheen will look to move up the leader board as she finished her rookie campaign in strong fashion as she improved her average finish by eight positions in the second half of the season. Rookie Audrey Clarke, the younger sister of men's golf standout Evan Clarke, is coming off a 31st place finish at the St. Lawrence Invitational (92-95-187).
St. John Fisher returns senior Celcia Fitzgerald who finished sixth last year to earn second-team all-conference honors. Sophomore Tessa Gordon and junior Alex Juda also return for the Cardinals after placing 12th and 13th, respectively in 2013.
Nazareth will feature two individuals in the tournament; senior Jennifer Lachell and Grace Cardamone. Lachell returns as a three-time second team all-conference honoree and will most likely be in the mix for another honor.
In the team competition, Ithaca is the favorite again by the numbers. Last season, Ithaca's team score of 627 placed ahead of Nazareth (815), St. John Fisher (822) and Elmira (876).
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Past E8 Champions