Milosh’s Record Day Leads Red Flash Women’s Golf to NEC Championship
ORLANDO, Fla. (April 30, 2006) – Saint Francis University sophomore Samantha Milosh (Aliquippa, Pa.) shot a tournament single-round record 3-under par 69 to help the Red Flash erase a nine-stroke first-round deficit and claim the Northeast Conference Women’s Golf Championship for a league record sixth time on Sunday.
Paced by Milosh’s career round, Saint Francis shot a team total 322 on Sunday for a two-day score of 663, two strokes better than runner-up and defending champion Long Island, which shot a tournament-best 319 on Sunday. Monmouth held a nine-shot lead after Day 1, but faded with a 340 to finish in third place. The two-day NEC Championship was played on Disney’s par-72 Lake Buena Vista Golf Course in Orlando, Fla., marking the first time the event was played in the state of Florida.
Milosh, last year’s NEC Rookie-of-the-Year, shot a 9-over 81 in the opening round for a two-day total of 6-over 150, two shots better than first-round leader and runner-up Rae Johnson of Monmouth. Milosh’s 3-under 69 eclipsed her previous career-best round by six shots and shattered the previous tournament 18-hole record of 73 shared by SFU’s Katie Thorne and Long Island’s Shauna Wilde.
Junior Megan Schaeffer (Richland, Pa.) earned All-Conference distinction for the third time in her career by virtue of her eighth place finish. Schaeffer fired a 12-over 84 on Sunday for a two-day 22-over 166. The top 10 performers, plus ties, at the NEC Championship are named to the All-Conference Team.
Senior Mary Kate Williams (Somerville, N.J.) carded a 13-over 85 in the final round and tied for 13th place with a two-day 169. Sophomore Stephanie Switzer (Beaver, Pa.) shot a 12-over 84, her lowest round since an 83 at the William and Mary Invitational last October, to tie for 21st place with a two-round 178. Senior Amber Hein (Hutchinson, Kan.), who joined the team in March to give the Red Flash the required five players for conference eligibility, finished in 40th place with a two-day 318.
Saint Francis, which has won four of the last five NEC Championships and six overall, moves on to compete in NCAA Regional competition from May 11-13.
Final Team Scores Top-10 Individual Scores
Scores Scores
1. Saint Francis 341 322 663 +87 1. Samantha Milosh (SFU) 81 69 150 +6
2. Long Island 346 319 665 +89 2. Rae Johnson (MON) 77 75 152 +8
3. Monmouth 332 340 672 +96 3. Erica Chong (LIU) 78 79 157 +13
4. Wagner 357 343 700 +124 4. Rachel Malenich (RMU) 81 77 158 +14
5. Mount St. Mary’s 357 345 702 +126 5. Natalie Desjardins (LIU) 87 74 161 +17
6. Robert Morris 359 344 703 +127 Leah Steinmiller (CCSU) 83 78 161 +17
7. Sacred Heart 367 351 718 +142 7. Alysse Sweeney (WAG) 83 80 163 +19
8. Central Conn. St. 366 360 726 +150 8. Megan Schaeffer (SFU) 82 84 166 +22
9. Rylee Plitz (MON) 83 84 167 +23
Caitlin Miller (WAG) 82 85 167 +23
Emily Noelker (WAG) 87 80 167 +23
Saint Francis Individual Finishes
Scores
1. Samantha Milosh 81 69 150 +6
8. Megan Schaeffer 82 84 166 +22
T13. Mary Kate Williams 84 85 169 +25
T21. Stephanie Switzer 94 84 178 +34
40. Amber Hein 162 156 318 +174