BREWSTER, Mass. – The Husson University women's golf team opened competition at the New England Intercollegiate Golf Association (NEIGA) Championship on Saturday, carding a team score of 411 to sit eighth overall following the opening round at The Captains Golf Course.
The Eagles finished the opening day just two strokes behind seventh-place Gordon College (409) and three strokes behind sixth-place University of Southern Maine (408) in the 10-team field. Bates College leads the tournament after shooting a 318, followed by Eastern Connecticut State University (383) and Nichols College (386).
Freshman Alison Mitchell paced the Eagles with a 29-over-par 101 on the par-72 Starboard Course, finishing the opening round tied for 20th individually. Mitchell recorded a 50 on the front nine before closing with a 51 on the back, putting herself just one stroke outside the top 20 heading into Sunday's final round.
Sophomores Abigail Theriault and Riley Fyfe followed closely behind, each carding a 31-over-par 103 to finish tied for 24th overall.
Theriault posted Husson's lowest front-nine score of the afternoon, opening with a 48 before finishing with a 55 on the back nine. Fyfe recorded a 49 on the front nine before closing with a 54 on the back, keeping both Eagles within striking distance of the top 20.
Sophomore Caroline Chausse rounded out Husson's lineup with a 32-over-par 104, placing her in a tie for 26th overall. Chausse rebounded from a 54 on the front nine to shoot a 50 on the back, the lowest back-nine score among the Eagles' four competitors.
At the top of the individual leaderboard, Bates College's Isabelle Meltzer and Eastern Connecticut State's Caroline Goderre share the lead after each carding a five-over-par 77. Bates' Victoria Adams sits third with a 79, while Liv Sheen follows in fourth with an 80.
Husson enters Sunday's final round within striking distance of several teams in the middle of the standings, sitting just nine strokes behind fifth-place University of New England (402) and 16 strokes behind fourth-place Keene State College (395).
The Eagles return to The Captains Golf Course on Sunday for the second and final round of the NEIGA Championship, looking to climb the team standings and close out the tournament with a strong performance.
