Williams Wins Ann S. Batchelder Invitational at Nehoiden

WELLESLEY, Mass. – Williams College made it five in a row, winning the team title at the 2014 Ann S. Batchelder Invitational, hosted by Wellesley College. The two-day event was held on the par-72, 5,860-yard Nehoiden Golf Course on the Wellesley campus.

Williams built on a 4-stroke lead on day one, eventually securing a 14-stroke victory. The Ephs edged out New York University with rounds of 321 and 303 to finish with a 624, 14 strokes ahead of NYU (638), and 32 strokes ahead of third-place Middlebury (656).

Mount Holyoke finished in fourth place, recording rounds of 326 and 339, for a 660 total, while Amherst College was 16 strokes behind in fifth with scores of 351 and 323, for a 674. Eight out of nine teams improved their scores by double-digits with the improved weather on Sunday, led by sixth-place Vassar who shed 30 strokes on day two.  Vassar pulled away from Wellesley who came into day-two hoping to erase a 7-stroke deficit.  The hosts improved by 18 strokes on day two, recording scores of 376 and 358, for a 734, finishing in seventh place.

William Smith improved by 22 strokes on day two, combining a 397 and a 375 for an eighth place score of 772. Westfield State University shed 28 strokes on day-two, finishing in ninth place with an 894 (461-433).

Individually, Williams' Tracey Kim won the event, tying the tournament-low of 73 on day two after shooting a 75 on day one. She finished with a total of 148 for the medalist honors. Jamie Gracie of Amherst finished second overall, with scores of 77 and 73 for a 150, while Williams' Shelby Shote helped the Ephs secure the team victory with a third-place finish (79-74-153).

For host Wellesley, junior Lei Wei was the top finisher. She recorded identical rounds of 90 for a 180 total, good for a 24th place tie. Senior Becca Berger shed nine strokes to finish in a tie for 28th place with rounds of 96 and 87 for a 183.

One stroke separated senior Haneen Anbarserri and first-year Maya Muldowney, who finished in ties for 30th and 32nd, respectively. First-year Sam Lanevi shaved five strokes off of her day-one finish, recording a 99 and a 94, good for 36th out of the 48 total competitors.  Rounding out the Wellesley golfers, first-years Emily Smith and Kathleena Inchoco finished in 39th and 41st place, respectively, and sophomore Olivia Grochmal finished 42nd.

This weekend's tournament marks the end of the fall season for the Blue golfers. The team will be back in action in the spring.

Ann S. Batchelder was a Wellesley faculty member for 38 years, teaching physical education and also serving as one of the school's varsity squash coaches. She retired in spring of 2009, establishing a charitable gift annuity for the Friends of Wellesley College Athletics. Her generosity created one of the largest gifts from a member of the College's academic community and will benefit Wellesley student-athletes for years to come.