Columbia University
Ivy League Championship
Columbia Concludes Season Sixth at Ivy League Championship
4/23/2023 8:36:00 PM | Women's Golf
Shao (+19) leads Lions with T-20th
PURCHASE, N.Y. — The Columbia women's golf team's 2022-23 season came to an end at the Ivy League Championship on Sunday. The Lions finished the tournament in sixth with senior Christine Shao posting the best individual score of 19-over-par from the championship, which was held at Century Country Club.
"We have a youthful team and came into this tournament with two players that had any sort of Ivy championship experience," Columbia head coach Amy Weeks said. "This golf course will expose your weaknesses. We knew this weekend would be a challenge for us and it certainly was.
"I knew Christine playing well would be key for us this weekend. Last year, she struggled to make the lineup, so for her to come back this year and contribute as much as she did all year says a lot about her perseverance. She was staring down every bit of a 74 or 75 today and just got a few bad breaks, which will happen on a very difficult, challenging golf course like this. The greens complexes are as difficult as it gets at our level. It makes it hard to get into any sort of rhythm with your chipping and putting … The three-putts really got to us."
After an opening 76 on Friday, Shao was 3-over through 16 holes on Sunday but suffered an unfortunate bogey-double finish. She started with a double bogey at the first under tough, wet conditions. Shao then made two birdies in her round and got herself back to 1-over after the latter at the par-4 10th.
"The conditions this morning were tough," Weeks added. "The first two hours of golf were difficult. Our kids sat there for three hours before we started. It was not an ideal championship start."
Sophomore Paige Harrison and first-year Yoko Tai showed promise for a team that will bring back most of its lineup next season. Harrison made six birdies through the tournament, which tied for the eighth-most in the field and was just two off the eight posted by the leaders. Tai made five birdies and saved her best round for Sunday, posting a 5-over 77 with birdies at the par-4 third and 12th.
"Paige Harrison and Yoko Tai were composed mentally and had great attitudes about the challenges this weekend," Weeks went on to say. "Paige was close. I know her scores don't look like it, but those rounds could have easily gone in a different direction for her. I'm talking 75s and 76s, which could have put her closer to an All-Ivy finish.
The conclusion of the tournament marked the last collegiate rounds for seniors Shao and Annie Sun.
"I can't say enough about Christine and Annie," Weeks praised of her seniors. "Annie stepped up and accepted my challenge to play today when it was pouring down rain outside. She did what she had to do yesterday to get herself ready. She played well this week in practice and I thought she deserved this opportunity today. I'm so proud of Annie and Christine for battling and persevering when things get tough."
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Players Mentioned
