Results

CLIFTON SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Senior classmates Audrey Clarke '18 and Meghan Fonfara '18 led the Elmira College women's golf team through the first round of the season at the annual William Smith Invitational on Saturday.

Clarke, a three-time Empire 8 All-Conference honoree, opened her senior campaign with the fifth-best round of her collegiate career. The Churchville, New York, native carded an eight-over-par 80 to lead the Soaring Eagles through the first 18 holes of the tournament. Her score from Saturday's opening round is six strokes lower than her best round at last season's William Smith Invite. She is second on the individual leaderboard, just one stroke shy of SUNY Cortland's Danielle Bambola.

Fonfara finished the course one stroke shy of her career low score. The Elma, New York, product recorded a 15-over-par 87, just off the pace her second round 86 (+14) from the 2017 Ithaca College Invitational in the spring. She is tied with Cortland's Kristin Scali for ninth place.

Fellow seniors Alyssa Ogden '18 and Cassie Chun'18 finished one stroke apart with scores of 111 (+39) and 112 (+40), respectively and rank 52nd and 53rd. EC's quintet was rounded out by junior Sarah Hiltbrand '19, who fired a 129 (+57) and is in a two-way tie for 58th place.

As a team, the Purple and Gold posted a cumulative score of 390 (+102) in their season-opening round at the Clifton Springs Country Club in Clifton Springs, New York. EC is seventh on the team leaderboard, 15 strokes behind the host Herons of William Smith and a mere one stroke ahead of eighth-place Suffolk University. SUNY Cortland, one of the new Empire 8 Conference affiliates, is first with a cumulative score of 337 (+49). Former E8 member, Ithaca College, is second with a 340 (+52).

Elmira Women's Results
2 – Audrey Clarke 80 (+8)
T-9 – Meghan Fonfara – 87 (+15)
52 – Alyssa Ogden – 111 (+39)
53 – Cassie Chun – 112 (+40)
T-58 – Sarah Hiltbrand – 129 (+57)

Team Results
1. SUNY Cortland – 337 (+49)
2. Ithaca – 340 (+52)
3. Hamilton – 361 (+73)
4. Union – 368 (+80)
5. St. Lawrence – 369 (+81)
6. William Smith – 375 (+87)
7. Elmira – 390 (+102)
8. Suffolk – 391 (+103)
9. St. John Fisher – 414 (+126)
10. Keuka – 422 (+134)
11. Nazareth – 446 (+158)

News and Notes

• Clarke's 8-over-par 80 is three strokes shy of her career low round.
• Clarke's score is also six strokes better than her lowest round at last year's William Smith Invitational.
• Fonfara finished one stroke shy of her career best with an 87.

Up Next
The EC women will finish the 36-hole William Smith Invitational on Sunday, September 17, with the second round of action at the Clifton Springs Country Club.