Women's golf: Aboff, Tigers destroy ECAC competition

Aboff has been a consistent performer this season, having notched the top finish among the Tigers in each of their four tournaments this season. She also recorded the best individual performance by a Tiger prior to this weekend, a third-place showing at the Princeton Invitational on Sept. 20-21.

It should be no surprise, then, that two dominant rounds from Aboff would be enough to propel Princeton to a 16-shot victory at the ECAC championship. The tournament featured a 17-team field that included local rival St. John’s and Ivy League opponents Dartmouth and Penn.

On the first day of play, the Red Storm looked quite impressive while the Tigers did not shoot their best golf. Aboff and senior co-captain Marlowe Boukis both recorded solid rounds, with Aboff carding a one-over 73 and Boukis carding a five-over 77. The team as a whole combined for 309 strokes and ended the day tied with St. John’s for the lead in the team competition.

On the second day, though, Princeton surged past St. John’s thanks to improvements from every single golfer.

Aboff carded an outstanding four-under 68 on Sunday to finish at three-under overall, good for first in the 90-woman field. In fact, Aboff was the only golfer to finish under par, with Lehigh’s Ana Nam taking second place at plus two.

Princeton, however, needed all of its golfers to step up on Sunday, and the Tigers came through. Boukis improved by five strokes, recording an even-par round Sunday to finish fifth overall at plus five. Junior Michelle Grilli tied for sixth place at plus nine.

The most dramatic improvements came from a pair of sophomore golfers, Kate Scarpetta and Rachel Blum. Scarpetta, who carded an 84 on Saturday, brought a much sharper game to the course on Sunday, scoring a second-round 74 and finishing at plus 14 overall. Blum made nearly as dramatic a leap forward, with a second-day plus four that bettered her Saturday performance by nine strokes and left her tied for 32nd overall at plus 17.

Princeton finished with a team total of plus 23, with St. John’s finishing second at plus 39.

The Tigers now have a three-week layoff, as the team will not play again until Fall Break. On Oct. 27-28, Princeton will travel to Charleston, S.C., to attend the Edwin Watts/Palmetto Intercollegiate competition.