Daytona Beach, FL – The Fairleigh Dickinson University women’s golf team pulled away in the final round of the 2019 Northeast Conference Women’s Golf Championship to capture their league record eighth overall tournament title, second straight, and fourth in the last five years.
The Knights shot rounds of 306, 305, and 307 over the weekend, for a three-round total of 918 and a wire-to-wire victory, finishing 23 strokes better than second place Sacred Heart. The 918 three-round total represents FDU’s lowest 54-hole team score in program history at the NEC Championships.
FDU freshman Tomita Arejola carded the best round of the weekend on the tournament’s final day, recording a two-under 70 on Sunday, to secure the 2019 NEC individual championship. Arejola finished the weekend with a three-over 219 (75-74-70) to become the fifth FDU women’s golfer to claim the individual crown, behind Michelle Holzwarth (2009), Mariana Juaristi (2013), Gabriela Santini (2015), and Mailen Chantry (2018). Sophomores Julia Warke (+17) and Nicola Smith (+18) also finished the event in the top-10 of the individual standings for the Knights.
Arejola, who began the final round with a two-stroke advantage, created some separation early on with three birdies on the front nine. She would finish the back nine at even par to win the title by 11 strokes over Sacred Heart freshman Hana Bowman. Bowman surged up five spots on the leaderboard with an impressive third round 75 (+3), to earn the runner-up finish, one stroke better than teammate Chelsea Sedlar.
The Sacred Heart Pioneers finished with a 941 team total (321-311-309), securing their second straight, and fifth overall, runner-up finish at the NEC Championships. The Pioneers finished seven strokes clear of the Wagner Seahawks, who placed third and earned their best team finish since 2016.
Fairleigh Dickinson will advance to the 2019 NCAA Women’s Golf Regionals, taking place the weekend of May 6-8. The NCAA Women's Golf Championship selections will be announced live via the Golf Channel on Wednesday, April 24 at 5:30 p.m. ET.
Team Standings
1. Fairleigh Dickinson – 306-305-307 (+54)
2. Sacred Heart – 321-311-309 (+77)
3. Wagner – 326-313-309 (+84)
4. Saint Francis U – 313-320-316 (+85)
5. LIU Brooklyn – 324-321-327 (+108)
Mount St. Mary's & St. Francis Brooklyn student-athletes are competing as individuals
Individual Standings
1. Tomita Arejola, FDU – 75-74-70 (+3)
2. Hana Bowman, SHU – 78-77-75 (+14)
3. Chelsea Sedlar, SHU – 77-74-80 (+15)
T4. Pascalle Tego, WC – 76-78-78 (+16)
T4. Heather McLean, WC – 80-76-76 (+16)