Click Here for Women's Golf Tournament HQ
Daytona, FL- The Fairleigh Dickinson Knights hope to make it five in a row this weekend as the women’s golf teams of the Northeast Conference head south to Daytona to compete in the three day 2012 Conference Championship.
“We want to defend that title,” said sophomore Mariana Juaristi (Irapuato, Guanajuato/Prepa Tec) of the approaching championship. Despite losing several seniors to graduation the remaining Knights are motivated to keep the tradition of title winning golf alive in Teaneck. A welcome addition to the line-up has been Idaho transfer Annika Karlsson, who took first place at the 2012 Monmouth Hawk Invitational, booking scores of 74 and 75.
After receiving the first place spot in the pre-season poll, the Sacred Heart Pioneers will look to make their own run at the title. Sophomore Gabriella Riber (Stockholm, Sweden/Danderyds Gymnasium) brings tournament experience after finishing in a tie for fourth place at the 2011 event, while senior Carly Bergin (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Valley) played well this fall and earned NEC Golfer of the Month honors in October.
LIU Brooklyn will also be in the hunt after Brianna Maynard (Auckland, New Zealand/Rosehill College) and Christina Felip ((Barcelona, Spain/IES Joaquim Blume), each earned NEC Golfer of the Week honors this spring. Blackbird senior Anna Palsson (Stockholm, Sweden/Ostra Real) will return to Daytona looking to defend her individual title, while Saint Francis (PA) returns reigning NEC Rookie of the Year Ann Colligan (Kittanning, PA/Kittanning), who finished second at last year’s championship. While Red Flash freshman Mallory Cortis (Chambersburg, PA/Chambersburg) will look to continue to add to her resume after earning a first place finish at Niagara’s Purple Eagle Invitational and subsequent NEC Golfer of the Week Honors in early April.
After finishing third at last year’s championship, the Robert Morris Colonials enter this weekend’s competition firing on all cylinders following a first place finish at the Mount Spring Invitational and a second place team finish at the Niagara. Sophomore Alee Everman (Dayton, OH/Centerville) paced the Colonials at both events. Central Connecticut also earned a share of first place at the Mount Spring Invitational and will look for low-rounds and leadership from junior Anna Ausanio (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay).
Wagner also heads into Championship Weekend with a head of steam after sophomore Huffman (Lima, OH/Lima Catholic Central) earned NEC Golfer of the Week Honors last week following a first place individual finish at the Mount St. Mary’s Invitational.
Monmouth Hawk juniors Kelsi Kavanagh (Point Pleasant, NJ/Point Pleasant Boro) and Rachel Werner (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown West) have each posted a handful of top-10 finishes this spring and will look to continue the trend this weekend, while Mount St. Mary’s freshman Kelsey Hayward (Seekonk, MA/St. Mary’s Academy) will look to make a name for herself at the conference meet after a solid freshman campaign. St. Francis (NY) freshman Rebecca Kerry (Bend, OR/Summit)will have similar hopes as she makes her first Conference Championship appearance after leading the Terriers this spring. For the Quinnipiac Bobcats it will be junior Kayla Ketcheson (St. Andrews, Manitoba/Northwood University) leading the charge after a solid season which featured a top-20 finish at the Hartford Invitational and a program best single round score of 79 at the Brown Invitational.
The NEC Women’s Golf Championship kicks off Friday at the LPGA Tournament in Daytona, Florida. Be sure to check back throughout the weekend for daily recaps.