Bobcats Three-Peat as MAAC Champions

Sunday, April 23

Lake Buena Vista, Fla. / Disney's Palm Golf Course

7:30 AM

Quinnipiac University

MAAC Championship

4/23/2023 12:56:00 PM | Women's Golf

By: QU Athletic Communications

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Quinnipiac women's golf dominated the field at the MAAC Championship to emerge as back-to-back-to-back MAAC champions, claiming its fifth MAAC title in program history and third in a row. The Bobcats placed three golfers inside the top three and claimed the team championship by 28 strokes over second place Albany at Disney's Palm Golf Course Sunday afternoon.

With the MAAC Championship victory, Quinnipiac becomes just the second program in MAAC history to win a third consecutive championship. The victory was Quinnipiac's fifth MAAC Championship as a program, the most by any team in the conference since the Bobcats joined the MAAC for the 2013-14 season.

𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊-𝐭𝐨-𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊-𝐭𝐨-𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐁𝐎𝐁𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐒

Quinnipiac becomes the second program in @MAACSports history to three-peat as conference champs

🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/uK2vcLCPhd
— QU Women's Golf (@QU_WGolf) April 23, 2023

As a team, Quinnipiac shot 291-292-290 – 873 (+9) to break the MAAC Championship record for the best three-round team score at the tournament, surpassing the previous record that the Bobcats set just last season by 28 strokes.

Fuge Zhang led Quinnipiac's championship effort by shooting 214 (-2) on the weekend, earning a first-place finish on the leaderboard to earn MAAC Golfer of the Year honors. The individual win at the MAAC Championship marks the second consecutive season where the Bobcats produced the individual champion at the event, as captain Leeyen Peralta claimed the honor last season. Zhang is the fourth golfer in program history to earn the accolade.

After shooting 70 (-2) in round one and 72 (E) in the second round, Zhang shot a 72 (E) to finish at 214 (-2) to break the record for the best three-round score of all-time at the MAAC Championship. The record was previously held by teammate Peralta, who shot 218 (+2) at the 2022 MAAC Championship.

Along with being named the MAAC Golfer of the Year, Zhang earned All-MAAC Team honors for the second consecutive season. Leeyen Peralta and Kaylee Sakoda also earned All-MAAC laurels, marking the third consecutive year the duo has garnered the honors. Sakoda finished the tournament at 215 (-1) taking second place, while Peralta finished at 216 (E) for third place. It marked the first time in program-history where QU had three individuals claim the top three slots.

Sakoda saved her best round for last, shooting a 69 (-3) in the final round of the tournament. Sakoda opened the front nine with eight consecutive pars before shooting for eagle on nine to finish 34 (-2) to open the day. She shot for par on eight of her final nine holes before going for birdie on 18.

Peralta closed the tournament shooting a 72 (E) for the third consecutive round take third place. Peralta came alive down the stretch, going for birdie on holes 13 and 14, following with par on the remaining four holes of the day.

Meg Yoshida rounded out Quinnipiac's team score, going for 232 (+16) to tie for 15th place. Aimee Uchida concluded play with a 238 (+22) to tie for 28th.

LINKS AND RESULTS
Final Results | Team Results | Individual Results

SCORES AND NOTES

With the championship victory, the Bobcats became the second team in MAAC history to win the MAAC Championship at least three times in a row
The championship victory marks the fifth for the Bobcats since joining the conference prior to the 2013-14 season, the most by any team during that stretch
Quinnipiac shot 291-292-290 – 873 (+9) to break the MAAC Championship record for the best three-round team score at the tournament
The Bobcats broke their own record that they set in the previous season (2022 - 901; +37)
Quinnipiac shot 290 (+2) in the final round to break the previous MAAC Championship round record that the program previously set in the opening round on Friday
Zhang was named the MAAC Golfer of the Year after taking first place
Zhang became just the fourth golfer in program history to earn the honor
It marks the second time the Bobcats had a golfer claim the individual title in back-to-back years
Zhang's overall score of 214 (-2) stands as the best individual three-round score in MAAC Championship history
Kaylee Sakoda and Leeyen Peralta were named to the All-MAAC Team for the third consecutive season

UP NEXT
Quinnipiac awaits seeding for the 2023 NCAA Tournament Regional which will take place in either Athens (GA.), Gardens (Fla.), Pullman (Wash.), Raleigh, San Antonio or Chatham Hills (Ind.) from May 8-10.