VOORHEESVILLE, N.Y. – The Cortland women's golf team, led by tournament medalist Danielle Bambola (Miller Place), cruised to the title at the Northeast Women's Golf Conference (NWGC) Championship Saturday and Sunday at the Colonie Country Club.
 
Cortland finished with a 347 Saturday and a 340 Sunday for a final score of 687. Utica finished second with a 764 (389-375) and Suffolk was third at 771 (380-391). The Red Dragons won the Empire 8 title in 2017 and 2018 – that league disbanded after last year and its members are now part of the NWGC.
 
Four Cortland golfers earned all-conference honors with top-10 finishes. Bambola posted a 78 Saturday and, despite cold and windy conditions, improved to a 75 Sunday to win the individual crown with a 153 and be named NWGC Player of the Year. She finished 11 strokes ahead of Manhattanville's Nicole Krause (83-81-164) and 14 ahead of Alexis Anastos of Johnson & Wales (84-83-167). Bambola birdied two holes Saturday, and she opened quickly Sunday with a three-under par 33 on the front nine with three birdies and an eagle three on the par-5 sixth hole. She stumbled a little on the back nine with four bogeys and a double bogey, but recovered to birdie the final hole.
 
Amanda Gaffney (Williamsville/Williamsville East) joined Bambola on the All-NWGC first team, which includes the top five finishers. She placed fifth with a two-day score of 172, including an 83 on Saturday.
 
Alivia Waldron (Saranac) earned second-team all-league honors and was recognized as the league's Rookie of the Year with her seventh place showing in the field of 44 golfers. She carded a 90 Saturday and an 88 Sunday for a 178.
 
Jordana Testa (East Norwich/Oyster Bay) also earned a spot on the all-conference second team with a tie for 10th place. She was tied for 13th after Day 1 with a 96, but improved to score an 88 Sunday to finish at 184. Testa parred the final hole to secure the tie for 10th and the all-league award.
 
Camryn McHale (East Greenbush/Columbia) rounded out Cortland's contingent with a 20th-place effort. She scored 98 each day for a final score of 196.
 
NORTHEAST WOMEN'S GOLF CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP (October 5-6, 2019)

Complete Results (Golfstat)

FINAL TEAM SCORES:

Place, School              Day 1-Day 2-Total Score
1) Cortland                    347-340-687
2) Utica                          389-375-764
3) Suffolk                       380-391-771
4) Johnson & Wales      391-381-772
5) Husson                      399-377-776
6) Nazareth                    388-394-782
7) Keuka                        443-429-872
8) Canton                       491-460-951
(Manhattanville, St. John Fisher, Westfield State – individuals only)
 
INDIVIDUAL SCORES (TOP 10, PLUS OTHER CORTLAND)
(places 1-5 are first team all-conference; places 6-10 are second team all-conference)

Place, Name (School)                            Day 1-Day 2-Total Score
1 Danielle Bambola (Cortland)                 78-75-153
2) * Nicole Krause (Manhattanville)          83-81-164
3) Alexis Anastos (Johnson & Wales)       84-83-167
4) * Emily Schultz (St. John Fisher)          89-81-170
5) Amanda Gaffney (Cortland)                  83-89-172
 
6) Brooke Chapman (Suffolk)                   89-86-175
7) Alivia Waldron (Cortland)                      90-88-178
8) Katie Goulet (Husson)                          89-91-180
9) Nicole Antonucci (Suffolk)                    89-92-181
tie 10) Jordana Testa (Cortland)               96-88-184
tie 10) Abby Ainsworth (Utica)                  90-94-184
 
20) Camryn McHale (Cortland)                 98-98-196
 
* Individual entry
 
(44 golfers competed)