Lydic first, Spiders runner-up at Kingsmill

Monday, September 12

WILLIAMSBURG, VA

8:45 AM

University of Richmond

William & Mary Fall Invitational

09/13/2022 | Women's Golf

RESULTS Photo Gallery

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- The Richmond women's golf team opened its season in record-breaking fashion at the William & Mary Fall Invitational, as freshman Hannah Lydic set the program's individual scoring record and the Spiders set a new team scoring record for a single event.

Lydic's 54-hole total of 205 (11-under par) smashed Richmond record for lowest individual tournament score, formerly held by Tracy Martin who shot 215 (-1) at the Wendys Invitational in 2012-13 and the Spider Invitational in 2011-12. Lydic finished seven shots clear of the field of 60 en route to earning individual medalist honors in her collegiate debut.

"I'm very excited that I was able to perform right out of the gate," said Lydic. "It's something that I've been working hard for for a very long time, since I was six years old, really. But I'm also really excited that we got to perform well as a team."

Lydic keyed Richmond to a team score of 13-over par (877), the best tournament total in program history and tied with Elon for first in the 10-team field. The Spiders and Phoenix played a three-golfer, sudden-death tiebreaker following the completion of 54 holes, with Elon prevailing on the first extra hole to earn the team title. It was Richmond's second straight runner-up finish dating back to last season after UR placed second at the 2022 Patriot League Championship, one shot behind Boston University.

"We learned during last year's Patriot League [Championship] that one shot always counts, and I think that we learned that again today," said Spiders coach Calle Barlow of the final margin. "We played really well this week and we've been playing some good golf so this is a really exciting start to the season."

Junior Rory Weinfurther shot a 2-under 70 Tuesday to finish the event in fourth place at even-par 216, matching the lowest tournament score of her career and the fourth-lowest individual tournament score in program history. Weinfurther has now finished in the top 10 in four of her last six full-field events dating back to last season.

Sophomore Lauren Jones tied for 19th at 227 (+11), two shots in front of senior Vicky Zhu, who tied for 25th. Sophomore Christine Mandile placed 48th at 240 (+24), while freshman Olivia Wilkie, competing as an individual, finished 339th at 236 (+20).

With her win, Lydic became the first Spider to win an event with 60 or more competitors since Elsa Diaz captured the Boston College Intercollegiate title in 2017.

"It's something that I've always dreamed about, being here and being on such a big stage at a great golf course that's in top shape," said Lydic. "It was spectacular. It's always been a goal of mine."

"I'm not surprised," said Barlow of Lydic winning in her first college tournament. "She's played really well. She actually won our qualifying by quite a few. So I'm not surprised. She did say 'I've never played this well in my life' to me at one point and I was like 'Just keep going low, just keep going low.'"

Richmond will have a short break before competing at the Nittany Lion Invitational in State College, Pa. on Saturday and Sunday,

"We're really excited for the rest of the season and the rest of the year," said Lydic. "I think we can really perform well."