Clifton Springs, N.Y. – Freshman Emilie Oakes (Syracuse, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy) earned medalist honors with a program-record 179 to lead the Le Moyne College women's golf team to a victory at the William Smith Invitational on Saturday and Sunday at the par-72, 6097-yard Clifton Springs Country Club.
The Dolphins captured the team competition by recording a program-record 759 over the two rounds. The total eclipsed the previous record of 767 set last weekend. Le Moyne posted a 377 on Saturday, the second-best round in the program's history (376 last Monday), to take a 17-shot lead over Nazareth. The Dolphins wrapped up their first-ever victory by registering a 382 on Sunday. Nazareth finished in second place with a 791 on rounds of 394 and 397. William Smith placed third at 797 off rounds of 398 and 399. Manhattanville came in fourth at 919 (458-461), while Elmira placed fifth with a 929 (471-458).
Oakes became the first Dolphin in the program's history to claim medalist honors at a two-day competition by posting her 179. The mark is one shot better than the previous top score, set by Stephanie Breslin at the Mercyhurst Fall Invitational on September 18 & 19, 2010 and equaled by Kathleen Reidy at last year's William Smith Invitational. She recorded eight pars en route to a 95 on the first day to put her in a tie for fifth place. On Sunday, Oakes carded a program-record 84, which included two birdies and five pars, to climb to the top of the leaderboard. The previous best single-round score was set by Breslin at the Mercyhurst Fall Invitational on September 18, 2010 and equaled by Reidy at the Kutztown Spring Invitational on March 31, 2012. Freshman Emily Stickel (Kensington, Conn./Berlin) finished two shots behind Oakes to place second. She registered a 90, which included five pars, in the first round to hold the 18-hole lead. Stickel posted two pars and a birdie on Sunday en route to a 91, tied for the second-best round of the day. Sophomore Jocelyn Bender (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) finished in ninth place with a 199 on rounds of 97, including three pars, and 102, including a par of the final hole. Junior Laura Nicolais (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) carded a 200 off of rounds of 95, including a birdie on the first hole, and 105 to land in 10th place. Sophomore Daniela Tarolli (Solvay, N.Y./Solvay) rounded out Le Moyne's five competitors by placing 14th with rounds of 100, which included three pars, and 105 for a 205. Junior Emma Plucinik (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker), playing individually, finished 18th with a career-best 213 on rounds of 104 and 109.
The Dolphins return to action on Saturday and Sunday at SUNY Cortland's Martin/Wallace Invitational at Cortland Country Club.
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Le Moyne Scores
1. Emilie Oakes 95-84 – 179, 2. Emily Stickel 90-91 – 181, 9. Jocelyn Bender 97-102 – 199, 10. Laura Nicolais 95-105 – 200, 14. Daniela Tarolli 100-105 – 205, 18. Emma Plucinik 104-109 – 213.
Team Scores
1. Le Moyne 377-382 – 759, 2. Nazareth 394-397 – 791, 3. William Smith 398-399 – 797, 4. Manhattanville 458-461 – 919, 5. Elmira 471-458 – 929, 6. St. John Fisher 497-481 – 978.
