From NYU Athletics
The New York University women's golf team posted the best national finish in program history, completing the fourth and final round of play in fourth place at the NCAA Division III Championship, which was held Tuesday-Friday, May 8-11, at the Mission Inn Resort & Club at Howey-in-the-Hills, FL. All four rounds were played on the par-73, 5,804-yard El Campeon Golf Course.
The Violets, who finished fifth at the 2017 NCAA Championship, entered the competition ranked #3 in the nation by Golfstat.com.
NYU finished 17 strokes behind #2-ranked Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, who won the title in a playoff over #3-ranked Williams College. Both teams finished with a four-round combined score of 1,261.
The Violets, after shooting 321 on Friday, completed the competition with a total score of 1,278 (321-317-319-321).
Top-ranked George Fox University placed third with a 1,272 total.
Navika Kuchakulla, the Violets' freshman sensation, finished as National Runner-up after shooting 79 on Friday and completing her 72 holes at 14-over-par 306 (79-73-75-79). Her outstanding performance included a par round on Wednesday.
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps' Margaret Loncki edged Kuchakulla by three strokes with a final score of 303.
"Navika was outstanding this week and throughout the season," said Head Coach Brad Johnson. "She has solidified herself as among the best golfers in the nation, and her future accomplishments are limitless."
Senior Alyssa Poentis shot a six-over-par 80 on Friday and finished in a tie for 27th overall at 31-over-par 323 (81-83-79-80).
Junior Patty Treevichaphan posted a fourth-round score of 80 to end in a tie for 39th place at 329 (81-84-84-80). Junior Jenni Bluetling was two strokes behind at 331 (85-81-81-84), finishing in a tie for 43rd place.
Also competing for NYU was sophomore Arisa Kimura, who totaled 332 (80-80-90-82) and tied for 45th place.
"I am so proud of how we played and what we accomplished this season," Johnson added. "Only Alyssa will be leaving us. She has had an awesome career and we will miss her. But, the rest of these players will be back and we will be looking to battle for that National Championship again."
Overall, 25 teams and 130 golfers competed.
The NCAA Championship was the final competition of the 2017-18 season for the nationally-ranked Violets.