Experiences don't get much more intense than the one that the women's golf team had at the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championship last weekend. Princeton finished first in the 14-team field, but not before sophomore Avery Kiser triumphed in a six-hole playoff which was to decide not only individual medalist honors, but also the final team standings.
Victory was not a certainty at the end of 27 holes. The Tigers were tied with Brown for first overall, and Kiser was tied with Brown's Elizabeth Carpenter for individual medalist honors.
With Carpenter and Kiser knotted at the top of the pack, the two sqaured off in a sudden-death playoff that lasted six holes.
The sudden-death playoff ended with a 50-foot birdie putt by Kiser as the sophomore standout hit the putt that won the tournament for both her individually and Princeton overall. It was the second consecutive year that Kiser earned medalist honors in the tournament.
Kiser and Carpenter were neck-and-neck for the first three holes. But things looked grim for Kiser on the fourth hole when Carpenter needed just a short putt for a birdie while Kiser was still well away. Kiser managed to halve the hole with a tough chip from 40 yards out to stay in the match.
The two halved again on the fifth hole before the match was determined on the sixth.
"This playoff belonged on TV as Avery stalked Carpenter for six holes," head coach Eric Stein said.
While the weather was able to curtail play, it was certainly not able to thwart the Tigers. Although the ECAC championship was abbreviated once the Gettysburg, Pa. golf course became unplayable, Princeton finished first in the 14-team field after 27 holes in regulation and a six-hole playoff.
"We have waited all season to finally put together two good rounds that would lead us to a victory," Kiser said.
Kiser comes into her second season at Princeton on the heels of a tremendous rookie year. Hailing from Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., the home of the famed Torrey Pines Golf Club, Kiser grew up in the midst of some of the best golf in the country. She emerged as a leader of the team her freshman season when she led the team with a scoring average of 76, three individual tournament wins and three top-five finishes.
Other standouts from the weekend included sophomore Meg Nakamura, who finished fifth with a 116, and freshman Emma Stachowicz and junior Esty Dwek, who finished in 10th and 11th place with a 120 and 121, respectively.
With all four Tigers playing in the top 11 of the 70-player field, Kiser had to fight for her first place win.
"This was a great team victory because all five players contributed significantly to the win," Stein said.
The ECAC tournament marks the end of the team's official fall season. The players are looking forward to the spring and the team's opportunity to capture the Ivy League title, especially after its success this weekend. Princeton demonstrated this weekend that it can defeat its two biggest rivals, Yale — who won last year's Ivy League Championship — and Brown. The Tigers hope to carry the momentum from the fall season into the spring.
The team will travel to Puerto Rico over fall break in order to compete in the Florida International Pat Bradley Women's Golf Championship.
Read More
Six for six: men’s and women’s track and field both complete triple crown
Luke StocklessMen’s and women’s track and field each won the Ivy League title this past weekend, capping off a dominant season in which both teams won the triple crown — a feat not seen in 14 years.
Men’s and women’s track and field each won the Ivy League title this past weekend, capping off a dominant season in which both teams won the triple crown — a feat not seen in 14 years.
Nation’s No. 2 miler Mena Scatchard ’25 to transfer to Stanford for graduate year
Luke StocklessThe Tigers’ most decorated distance runner ever has decided to use her final year of eligibility at Stanford after graduating from Princeton this May.
The Tigers’ most decorated distance runner ever has decided to use her final year of eligibility at Stanford after graduating from Princeton this May.
Two-way treats: Shenefelt and Kram do it all for Princeton baseball team
Joseph UglialoroThe baseball team features two players who hit and pitch, a rarity at the college level. Nick Shenefelt and Kaden Kram each took unique paths to playing both ways this season.
The baseball team features two players who hit and pitch, a rarity at the college level. Nick Shenefelt and Kaden Kram each took unique paths to playing both ways this season.