Blue Golf Wins Ann S. Batchelder Invitational

WELLESLEY, Mass. – Wellesley College golf captured the 2024 Ann S. Batchelder Golf Invitational Championship on Saturday at Nehoiden Golf Club. Wellesley College hosted the event for the first time since 2019 with competition featuring two rounds of nine-hole matchplay for the first time.

Ann S. Batchelder has been an active supporter of Wellesley Athletics for over 40 years and was inducted into the Wellesley Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016. Ann 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 the spring of 2009 but continues to be an active supporter of Wellesley Athletics.

Wellesley won a total of 7.5 out of a possible 10 points. Bates earned 5.5 points. Bowdoin won four points and Babson finished with three.

In the opening match-ups, Wellesley defeated Babson College, 4-1 and Bates College defeated Bowdoin College, 4-1. 

Wellesley 4, Babson 1

Wellesley grabbed four of five points to defeat Babson in the opening match. First year Maria Li (Tashkent, Uzbekistan) finished 1 up. Sophomore Ashley Cong (Troy, Mich.) picked up a 4-2 win. Junior Norah Catlin (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) earned a 2 up decision. Sophomore Lucia Chen (Horseheads, N.Y.) won 3-2.

Wellesley and Bates matched-up in the afternoon to decide the championship, with Wellesley winning 3.5-1.5 to take the tournament title. 

Wellesley 3.5, Bates 1.5

Li scored a 4-3 win over Bates. Cong finished even to split a point. Catlin was two up and Chen won her match 3-2 to give the Blue the championship.

Bowdoin defeated Babson, 3-2.

Next up, the Blue compete at the Jack Leaman Invitational on Saturday-Sunday, April 20-21. The event will be hosted by Amherst College at the Orchards Golf Club.