BREWSTER, Mass. – Since Suffolk has taken the course at the regional championship, the Rams have come out as the winners with the 2018 New England Intercollegiate Golf Association (NEIGA) Championships being no different as the blue-and-gold coasted against its competition to capture the 2018 NEIGA Crown at The Captains Golf Course.
Suffolk held onto a hefty 40-stroke lead after the first day of action on Cape Cod and added to it to finish with a combined team card of 716, 78 strokes ahead of second-place finisher Rhode Island College. Husson completed the three-team field in third with a score of 803.
Individually, Suffolk shined as well. Aine Dillon became the first-ever Suffolk golfer – either male or female – to capture a regional tournament title. The junior from Yarmouth, Massachusetts, notched an 89 on the Port Course on the first day and shaved two strokes off her time on the Starboard Course the following day to finish with a 176 to pace the 19-golfer field, which was comprised of five different collegiate programs.
Three strokes behind Dillon were her teammates Sophia Koester and McKenzie McGrath, who finished with a share of third. The Rams' freshman and senior held down second after the first day on the green, but fell behind Rhode Island College's Megan Mahan (177) in the long run to complete the two-day event with 179s each.
Nicole Antonucci worked her way into the top five after sitting in six at the end of the day Sunday. The sophomore, who hails from Belmont, New Hampshire, put together a 90 on the second day of action to put today a total 182, good for sole possession of fifth.
Brooke Chapman also played her way into the top seven after holding onto eighth on Sunday. Antonucci's classmate shot a 91 on day two to finish one stroke behind Katie Goulet of Husson's 184.
For their efforts, each of Suffolk's golfer's garnered All-NEIGA honors. Antonucci, Chapman and McGrath earned the recognition for the second time in their careers, while Dine and Koester each picked up the nod for the first time.
The regional event, which is in its third year, has seen just three winners overall with Suffolk holding back-to-back titles.
