WARWICK, R.I. – The Keene State College women's golf team shot a 359 – setting a new best round score as a team in program history by one – to overtake Husson University for first place and win the inaugural Little East Conference championship at the Valley Country Club on Friday, hosted by Rhode Island College.
The Owls trailed the Eagles by six strokes entering the day but posted the low round of anyone at the tournament to beat Husson by 11 strokes over the final 18 holes. Both junior
Madison Mousley and sophomore
Mackenzie Hagearty parred the final two holes to help KSC lock up the victory. The Owls' scorers were five over on No. 17 and No. 18 while the Eagles were plus-10. The finish also helped Mousley move up to second individually after her round of 84, a three-stroke improvement from Thursday. She finished just one stroke back of individual medalist Remy Levin of the University of Southern Maine, who had a two-day total of 170. The leader at the end of the first day, Caitlyn Chabot of Husson, dropped two spots to third after shooting a 90, finishing with a 173.
KSC's four scorers were all in the top 11, including LEC Rookie of the Year
Sadie Murray, who finished fourth with a 176 (91-85). She birdied both the par four 10th and par three 12th – improving from a double-bogey and bogey, respectively, from Thursday. Murray also shot five strokes better on the front nine, parring four of the nine holes to kelp key the Owls' victory.
The Owls finished with nine birdies on the tournament, six more than second-place Husson, who had three on Thursday but none today. Sophomore
Abby Weiterman (93-92-185) had four birdies, including turning a 10 on the 102-yard par three No. 12 into a two today.
Chabot had recorded eight pars and one birdie in an impressive opening round for Husson, shooting an 83, but KSC was able to overtake the Eagles thanks to improvement from all four of today's scorers – Murray leading the way with a six-stroke improvement. Mousley improved by three strokes and Weiterman and Hagearty one each.
"I am really proud of the women today," said KSC head coach
Jeff Timmer. "They played so well today, one of our better scores as a team ever on the most important day. Really impressive days from Madi and Sadie in the pressure of a championship."
Mousley and Murray were each All-Little East First Team selections, while Weiterman made the LEC Second Team.
It was a fall that saw the Owls take major steps forward – routinely shooting below 370, including opening with a program-best 360 at the Westfield State Fall Invitational on September 14 before breaking that mark today.
"Being LEC champions is a perfect ending to an excellent season," added Timmer. "We have improved so much in four years and the team is having fun together. I am really looking forward to the future. This was what some would say a historic season…we set a lot of team records and accomplished so many goals this year. I know this group is motivated to get better, which is exciting for our future."
