Sporting a new coach and several new players, the New York University Women's Golf Team continues to play at a championship level. Competing at the St. Lawrence Invitational to open the season, the Violets posted a single-round program record 281 on Saturday, September 4, and lead the six-team competition by a wide margin.

Playing at the Oliver D. Appleton Golf Course in Canton, NY, the Violets posted an opening-round score of 281. The previous team record was also set at St. Lawrence (289) in 2019.

"To shoot seven-under-par is a great round of golf," stated first-year Head Coach Katie Rudolph.

The Violets lead second-place SUNY Cortland (311) by 30 strokes. 

Four NYU golfers are atop the leader board, and three of them are making their collegiate debuts. 

Freshman Madison Phung (Frisco, TX/Lebanon Trail) tied the team record by shooting a three-under-par 69.

"That's a special round of golf when you can get it into the 60's," Rudolph remarked. "It's a different mindset, a different kind of player who can shoot in the 60's."

Fellow freshman Nalinda Wanikpun (Bangkok, Thailand/Loomis Chaffee School) is right behind after shooting 70, while sophomore Michelle Zhou (Southlake, TX/Carroll) and junior Camilla Chung (San Francisco, CA/St. Ignatian College Prep) both shot 71.  

Another player making her debut, sophomore Mimi Chen (Lake Mary, FL/Lake Mary Prep), is in seventh place after carding a 78.

"It was a great round, but we're only half way there and the girls know that," Rudolph explained. "So, the only way to top that is to play with the same discipline tomorrow that we played with today."

The Violets return to the course at 8:00am on Sunday for the second and final round.