HOUSTON, TEXAS – The Cortland women's golf team moved up to 24th place out of 29 schools at the NCAA Division III Championships at the Bay Oaks Country Club after a strong showing during Thursday's third round.
The Red Dragons posted a 317, tied for the 14th best team score of the day and 19 strokes better than its second-round score from Wednesday. Cortland finished with a three-day score of 1,002, two better than Aurora and just six behind Dubuque. The Red Dragons started the day in 25th place but passed Aurora after outscoring them by 23 strokes.
Cortland did not qualify for Friday's final round. The top 15 teams continue into the final day, with the last team making the cut St. Catherine University at 950. Emory is the team leader at 879, followed by Redlands at 903 and George Fox at 906.
Claudia Winterberg (Harrisburg, NC/Hickory Ridge) shook off a double bogey on the opening 10th hole to finish the day with a three-over par 75. She had a 40 on the back nine followed by one-under par 35, including three birdies, on the front nine.
Paige Cerminaro (Howell, NJ) broke 40 on both sides with a 39 on the back and a 38 on the front for a five-over-par 77. She birdied one hole on both nines.
Sophie Oristian (Gaithersburg, MD/Quince Orchard) started with a 45 on the back nine and finished strong with a 37 on the front, including birdies on two of her final three holes, for a final score of 82.
Amanda Gaffney (Williamsville/Williamsville East) registered a 41 on the back and a 42 on the front, with one birdie, for an 83.
Alivia Waldron (Saranac) finished the day with a 44 and a 46 for a final score of 90.
Four of Cortland's five golfers recorded their best round of the tournament on Thursday. Through the third day, Winterberg was tied for 55th place (83-79-75-237), Cerminaro was tied for 94th (84-86-77-247), Gaffney was tied for 121st (90-87-83-260), Oristian was 130th (92-92-82-266), and Waldron was tied for 135th (97-84-90-271)
Ellen Dong of Emory is the individual leader going into the final day with a one-under par 215 (75-68-72), followed by four golfers tied for second at 218.
