Spiders In Striking Distance At Patriot League Championship

Saturday, April 20

Midlothian, VA

8:30 AM

University of Richmond

36 holes

Spiders In Striking Distance At Patriot League Championship

04/20/2019 | Women's Golf

Results

MIDLOTHIAN, VA – If the Richmond Spiders want to win a fourth straight Patriot League Women's Golf Championship, they'll have to do it from down the leaderboard. Richmond posted a combined score of 614 (+38) in Rounds 1 and 2 at Independence Golf Course on Saturday and will enter Sunday's final round four shots behind Boston University (610, +34) and three shots behind Navy (611, +35).

And while Spiders senior Sophie DiPetrillo has a shot at a second straight Patriot League individual title, she'll also need to move up the leaderboard to win on Sunday. DiPetrillo's total of 148 (+4) on Saturday trails 36-hole leader Shannon Gould of Navy by one. DiPetrillo held a two-stroke lead after posting a one-under 71 in Round 1 Saturday morning, the only under-par round by any player on Saturday. In addition to defending her individual conference title, DIPetrillo could become the first Spider to win three tournaments in her career with a victory on Sunday.

DiPetrillo is one of four Spiders in the top 10 of the 35-golfer field. Sophomore Lizzie Reedy, who finished third at last year's Patriot League Championship, is tied for sixth at 153 (+9). Freshman Naomi Mitchell and senior Annie Collom are tied for 10^th at 157 (+13).

Richmond posted a team total of 306 (+18) in the opening round, two shots behind Boston, who maintained its lead on Saturday afternoon. Navy, playing on the opposite side of the course, posted a team score of 301 (+13) in Round 2 to move ahead of the Spiders on the leaderboard. In Richmond's previous three wins at the Patriot League Championship, the Spiders had to overcome a 36-hole deficit just once – coming from two strokes behind to win the title in 2017.

Winds of more than 20 miles per hour combined with a wet course led to difficult scoring conditions in both rounds on Saturday. Forecasts favor less wind and a drier track for Sunday's final round, which will begin with groups going off the first and 10^th tees at 8:30 AM.

"The final round of a conference championship is a different type of pressure," said coach Ali Wright. "I think having a pair of seniors (DiPetrillo and Collom) who know how to play well and win in an environment like that is really going to help us tomorrow."