UAlbany Women’s Golf Wins Lonnie Barton Title By 18 Strokes

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – In the first tournament of the 2016 spring season, the University at Albany women’s golf team captured the title at the Lonnie Barton Invitational played at the LPGA International Hills Course. The Great Danes placed first out of 10 competing teams, shooting 323 on Monday and 314 on Tuesday for a final score of 637. St. John’s (655) placed second, followed by Siena (656), Sacred Heart (667) and Fairfield (677) in the top five.

"It is always nice to be able to come to Florida and to win our first tournament of the spring season after not having hit a golf ball on grass for just about five months,” said Head Coach Colleen Cashman-McSween. “It says a lot about this team’s hard work and dedication in the off-season and during the indoor practice season.”

Sophomore Annie Songeun Lee paced UAlbany with a second-place overall finish, shooting 79-75—154.

“I'm very proud of Annie on her second-place finish and she seems to have started the spring on the same foot she left off on in the fall,” said Cashman-McSween. “Unfortunately, our number two player couldn't tee it up this week due to an injury, so this truly was a team effort.”

Junior Rosalee Hearns tied for sixth with a 159 (80-79), followed by senior Yoorim Kang (82-81—163) who tied for 11^th in the 49-athlete field. Freshman Natalie Yamamoto (82-85—167) placed 15^th, while junior Nicolette Darois (90-79—169) rounded out UAlbany’s lineup.

“Anytime you can come out of the winter without being outside and win a big event it is pretty exciting. I'm very proud of them,” said Cashman-McSween.

Up next, the Great Danes compete in the Bearcats’ Spring Classic in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla., March 25-27.