Aliea Clark concluded her exceptional week at the NCAA Division III Championship with a fifth-place individual finish, leading NYU's women's golf team to eighth in the 29-team field at the Bay Oaks Country Club in Houston, TX.

The Violets set an NCAA Championship single-round record with a team score of 290 across the final round. Emory had set the record twice already this week, but NYU bested it with an extraordinary Friday.

"We saved the best day for last. I was so proud of how we played throughout the week," said Assistant Coach Todd Kolean. "These were conditions that the women were not used to, 95 degrees smoking hot and a four day format. Everyone contributed."

New York's four-round total of 1,218 was seven strokes behind seventh-place Pomona-Pitzer and eight ahead of ninth-place Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. Emory won the team title with a total score of 1,175.

Clark shot an even 72 across Friday's final round at the 5,866-yard, par-72 course on the Texas coast. She finished +3 for the tournament with a four-round total of 291, just two strokes behind the individual champion.

The graduate student recorded three birdies on the day and her third was pivotal, coming on the 15th hole to make up for a pair of bogeys to open the back nine which kept her even.

Michelle Zhou capped off her strong debut season with an even 72 today as well, finishing tied for 21st with a total score of 300 (+12).

Madison Phung shined in the fourth round, shooting a three-under 69 which was the second-lowest score of the day. She notched four birdies on the day and finished with a total score of 314 which tied her for 48th.

Summer Yang shot a 77 and Nalinda Wanikpun posted an 80, contributing to NYU's record-setting performance. Yang ended the Championship with a total score of 315 (T52nd) and Wanikpun finished with a 327 (77th).

"Madison with the lowest round of the tournament for us. Michelle was rock solid all week including -5 on the front today and Nalinda learned tons for the future," Kolean added. "Using Summer's score all four days, and of course Aliea finishing fifth overall. Coach Rudolph did a great, great job getting this very young team prepared."

There were 29 teams and 151 golfers competing in the tournament before it was reduced to the top 15 teams and top six individuals not on one of those teams after yesterday's third round.

This is NYU's fourth straight top-10 finish at the Championship as the team won it all in 2019. The future continues to look bright with the entire NCAA lineup, aside from Clark, returning next season.

Head Coach Katie Rudolph reflected on the women's performance at the Championship and their spring season overall.

"I'm thrilled the women were able to contend down in Houston. We played as a team and held each other up in very challenging conditions," she said. "I'm delighted Aliea Clark decided to play for us this spring semester and lead the team to a top-10 finish. Michelle Zhou has been steady all semester and I'm so proud of the grit she shows every day to get the job done.

"Summer Yang posted solid scores all week and really showed up this spring. I'm thrilled for Madison Phung to post a 69 for her final round today which helped our team post the low round of the day. Nalinda Wanikpun had a tough week but has been our constant all semester and has amazing teammates to cover for her during an off week."