Spiders finish second at Patriot League Championship

Friday, April 15

Annapolis, MD

9:30 AM

University of Richmond

Patriot League Championship

04/17/2022 | Women's Golf

RESULTS

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Richmond Spiders women's golf team finished in second by the slimmest possible margin Sunday at Naval Academy Golf Club, falling to Boston University by one stroke: 928 to 929.

Richmond entered Sunday's final round with a one-shot lead, but the Terriers quickly made up the deficit and grew their lead to as many as seven strokes with just a few holes remaining. With the final four holes playing with a tailwind gusting up 25 MPH, the Spiders were able to make up strokes with a series of pars, briefly retaking the lead. But Boston's Flair Kuan's par on the 18^th hole in the final pairing proved decisive, giving the Terriers their second Patriot League title in the last three tournaments.

"I kind of knew that the golf tournament – if it was within 10 strokes – didn't really start until we got to 16, 17, and 18, three tough finishing holes," said Ricmond coach Calle Barlow. "Our team really grinded it out and came back and kind of did what we needed to do. It's pretty crazy that we played 54 holes and it still came down to one stroke, and I'm sure every single one of my girls could find one stroke that we could get back."

Richmond's runner-up finish was its best at the Patriot League Championship since the Spiders won their third straight title in 2018.

Sophomore Rory Weinfurther, the 2021 individual Patriot League champion, led Richmond with a 54-hole score of 228 (+12), second in the field of 36. Junior Vicky Zhu was one shot behind at 229 (+13), tied for third. Both Weinfurther and Zhu earned First Team All-Patriot League honors for finishing in the top five.

Freshman Lauren Jones earned Second Team All-Patriot League honors with a 10^th-place finish and a score of 239 (+23). Fellow freshman Christine Mandile tied for 20^th at 244 (+28).

Richmond's two seniors, Naomi Mitchell and Emily Ward, finished tied for 15^th (242) and tied for 18^th (243), respectively, with both registering a top-20 finish in their final collegiate tournament.

"We wouldn't be where we are without their leadership," said Barlow of the Spiders senior class. "We'll miss them but we'll have new seniors next year and they've been trained well by this year's seniors."

"I am so proud of this group," continued Barlow. "We've been through a lot this semester, within our team and with golf and injuries and it hurts that it's one stroke but it's also pretty encouraging for next year."