GUILDERLAND, N.Y. – The Union College women's golf team carded the third-best round of the day in a spirited attempt at a top-three finish, with the team's round of 323 coming up a few strokes short as the Garnet Chargers took a well-earned fourth place at the Liberty League Championships, held on Saturday and Sunday at Pinehaven Country Club.
 
Union finished the weekend with its two best rounds ever at the conference championships, following up yesterday's 332 with a 323 on Sunday. The team's two-day score of 655 is the third-lowest in program history overall and a massive 57-stroke improvement over the previous best two-day score at Liberty Leagues set in 2023.
 
Union's 655 put the team four shots back of Ithaca College (651) in third place and marks the team's highest-ever finish at a Liberty League Championship with all conference teams competing. WCGA #6 Wellesley College held off #9 New York University with a two-day score of 612 to earn the title.
 
"What a rollercoaster of a day," said head coach Matt McPhillips. "Everybody was lighting up the scoreboard and it was just a pleasure to watch. I am really proud of the team for the effort they put forth both today and all season long. I am also really appreciative of our seniors and the leadership they have showcased since day one."
 
Individually, Union earned two of the three All-Conference spots not occupied by Wellesley and NYU, marking the first time ever that the Garnet Chargers boasted a pair of All-Liberty League performers in a championship that saw all teams participate.
 
First-year Iyene Essien followed up yesterday's 78 with a 75 on Sunday to finish in third place at 153 and earn All-League first-team honors with the highest-ever finish by a Union golfer. After going out with a 39 on Sunday, the first-year had a furious finish to her round, carding three straight birdies on the par-five 15, par-four 16th and par-five 17th holes to come in with an even-par 36. She finished the weekend an incredible three-under on the par-fives over two days, the best score of any golfer by two strokes, and her six birdies on the weekend were second-most in the field.
 
Senior Liz Bentsianov capped her stellar four-year career by earning a third All-Conference recognition. She carded the second-lowest round of her career in her final collegiate event, shooting a Sunday 76 to finish the championship at 161, good for a tie for 12th place and All-League honorable mention. The senior posted dual nines of 38 on Sunday, including back-to-back birdies on the 16th and 17th holes that vaulted her into All-Conference contention. Bentsianov finished her decorated four-year career with a program-record 81.93 scoring average, over four shots per round better than the previous record.
 
Junior Shea White finished one stroke outside the top 20 this weekend, shooting an 81 on Sunday to finish the two days at 169. She also had a pair of birdies on Sunday on the par-three 11th and par-four 13th holes, going out in 40 and coming in with a 41. Her 84.07 scoring average this season is seventh-best in the program record book.
 
First-year Carinna Anastasio shot a 91 on Sunday to finish the weekend at 172 in a tie for 23rd place. Senior Katerina Dimacopoulos carded a 94 on day two to end up 26th with a 190.
 
Union finishes a fantastic season with a team scoring average of 332.67, nearly 10 strokes better than the previous program record. The team also boasts three of the top-seven single-season scoring averages ever, led by Essien's program record 77.27-stroke average this year.