Athenas win program’s fourth title; Kang is individual champ
CHINO HILLS, Calif. – The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's golf team won its fourth Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship by beating the University of Redlands by 35 stokes over the course of the four regular season rounds plus the three championship rounds. The Athenas also won SCIAC Championship tournament by 24 strokes, led by freshman Emma Kang (CMC) who shot a 72 on the final day. With the conference title in hand, CMS earned the automatic qualification to the NCAA Championships.
Kang put together her highest front nine of the tournament at 4-over including a double bogey on the ninth, but something clicked at the turn and she delivered a 32 on the final nine holes for an even par performance. "I just felt so supported by my teammates and coaches," said Kang. "Coach Burton kept coming to check in with me and telling me I could do it and I trusted her. I didn't even realize it until I made the fourth birdie on the back nine." She improved each day of the tournament shooting 75, 74 and 72 for an overall score of 221.
Classmate Taylor Hughes (CMC) was also in contention for the individual crown and played in the final pairing with the defending national champion from Redlands, Caroline Ordian. The freshman had her highest round of the tournament at 79, but still finished in fourth place overall. She led the field on par three scoring over the weekend at even par. Ever the competitor, Ordian shot a 70 on the final day of the tournament to climb back into second place, still three shots back from Kang.
Just behind Hughes was sophomore Kelly Ransom (CMC), who after yesterday's 73, was battling for a spot on the podium as well. Similar to Monday's round, she started off with four consecutive pars but then struggled with the final three holes of the front nine. Two birdies on the back nine bolstered her score and the sophomore finished in fifth place overall.
Junior Margaret Loncki (CMC), who was the 2015 SCIAC champion, posted an 81 and wrapped up the tournament in a tie for seventh. Four CMS players were in the top-7. The next highest finisher was sophomore Nathalie Limandibhratha (CMC) who played as an individual in the tournament. She played a steady round without anything over a bogey for a tie of 11th overall.
Head coach Jodie Burton was overwhelmed with pride of her team's success and doubly exhilarated by becoming a grandmother on the same day.
The NCAA Championships will be held at Bay Oaks Country Club in Houston, Texas on May 9-12. Earlier this season, the Athenas played in the DIII National Spring Preview at the same course. In that tournament, Loncki and Kang both finished in the top-5.
By Emily Nordhoff
Sports Information Director
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