Southwick, Mass. - It was a historical fall season for the Adelphi University women's golf team, as junior Ilaria Ponziani became the first ever Panther in program history to capture the individual title at the Northeast-10 Championship, hosted at The Ranch Golf Club this past Sunday and Monday. 

Emily McKenna was given the Elite 24 Award for having the highest cumulative GPA of all participating student-athletes with an overall grade point average of 3.969. She is the first women's golf student-athlete to receive this prestigious award. 

The squad tied for second place with Le Moyne College and tallied a total score of 673 (325, 348) over the two-day tournament - which is the best finish for the team since its establishment. 

"The team worked well together over the 36 holes through good weather and challenging conditions today. Ilaria's birdie on the last hole tournament clinched the individual title and that helped the team secure a second finish," said first year Head Coach Bill Bresnan.

After finishing in the top ten in all of her tournaments so far this season, Ponziani concluded her fall season with a finish in first place accumulating a 1-over 145. She notched her second tournament win in her collegiate career. The junior also tied her personal 18-hole best with a score of 69 that she scored on day 1.

"Getting to be the first Panther to win the individual title is incredible, and I feel super proud to be a Panther and honored to be part of this team," the Genova, Italy native stated. "The feeling I had on 18 is indescribable but wearing the school colors made it super special."

She led all individuals with an average score of 1-under on par 3, as well as leading the average score of par 4 with a 1-over. Ponziani collected seven birdies and 21 pars over the course of the event. 

McKenna finished off her tournament play with a two-day score of 31-over 175 capping off a tie in 15th place. She notched two birdies, tying with teammates Alexis Cokinos and Sabrina Nyitray, and possessed ten pars.

Cokinos carded a 17th place finish while scoring a 33-over 177. She concluded a score of 86 on day 1, only two strokes off her personal best that was set in April of this year. The sophomore collected 13 pars over the stretch of 36 holes.

Another personal best was set by Nyitray who capped off a 20th place finish and recorded a 36-over 180, which smashed her old total score personal best set at 198 that was met at The 1886 in October 2021. The Long Island native also set a new 18 hole best with an 89 on day 2, beating her old score of 97 that was also set at The 1886.

Amy McCaffrey concluded her two-day tournament with a final score of 40-over 184 and a tie in 25th place. She collected an 87 on day 1, finishing one stroke off her 18 hole personal best of 86 which was at The 1886 last year. 

The Panthers completed a successful tournament and fall season to which they are excited as ever to compete back on the course once the spring season arrives.