One putt can change everything — just ask Rory McIlroy at the 2024 US Open. He missed a three-foot putt on hole 18, opening the door for Bryson DeChambeau to win his second major.
While it was the MAAC Championships and not the US Open, Quinnipiac golf felt similar heartbreak. Leeyen Peralta ‘24 missed a putt and lost out on a chance for a playoff hole to win a third straight Quinnipiac individual MAAC title.
In a quest for a fourth consecutive in the 2023 MAAC women’s golf championship, the Bobcats tied for second with Fairfield, just three strokes behind the University of Albany, the preseason favorite.
“We’re definitely really motivated by that, knowing that we were so close and we really just had one bad day, so just knowing how important that is and striving for it,” sophomore Samantha Galantini said. “I think this year we have a good chance to win the MAAC again.”
The Bobcats are looking to reclaim the top spot in the MAAC, returning six golfers from last year while also rostering five freshmen.
RETURNERS
Of those returners is MAAC Rookie of the Year Galantini who made her second straight U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. The West Orange, New Jersey, native shot a 67 (-3) — with five birdies and two bogeys — to make it into the field.
In stroke play — for a chance to make it into the Round of 32 — Galantini shot a 80 (+9) in the first round then she shot a 74 (+3) missing the cut by three strokes.
“It was an amazing opportunity. I was so happy making it last year, so making it this year, I was even more happy. Really proved that I could really get to that level,” Galantini said. “It’s great just playing against top amateur golfers in the world and I played well, it was a really fun experience.”
In her first season at Quinnipiac, Galantini had top-10 finishes at the Hartford One Day Invitational, Quinnipiac Classic, Navy Spring Invitational and the MAAC Championships.
“(Galantini) seems to rise to the occasion,” head coach John O’Connor said. “I always like to see her do that. She doesn’t let the pressure get to her. So I’m sure I’m going to get a lot of very good rounds from Sam.”
O’Connor’s team returns seniors Meg Yoshida and Fuge Zhang — who won the 2022 MAAC championship — junior Sandhya Vaikuntam and sophomores Alexia Egdahl and Natalie Spiska. Zhang, Egdahl and Spiska all featured in the 2023 MAAC championships.
“Sandhya has really taken over the reins and let it be known that if anybody needs help, she’s the one to go to,” O’Connor said. “But you know my sophomores this year, Alexia, Natalie and Samantha, they’ve come a long way. They’re like upperclassmen now, and I expect a lot from all three of them.”
NEWCOMERS
While the returners may be set to make the biggest impact, the five freshmen have already been making an impression.
“They’re here at Quinnipiac to get education and, you know, stuff like that,” Yoshida said. “But, you know, they were already in the simulation room from day one.”
Let’s get into some of their accomplishments.
Marisa Flores was a two-season varsity team captain, where she placed in the top three in four tournaments, earned All-State and multiple All-Conference and All-County honors.
Sophia Fujita was a four-year varsity golfer and team captain at North Torrance High School in California, was named Ocean League champion, player of the year, a four-time First Team honoree, Toyota Tour Cup champion and has represented SoCal at Pebble Beach twice.
Amy Goddard was a three-time All-Star Golf award winner and team captain at Holy Name of Mary College School, has earned multiple top-three finishes, including a third-place medal at a Golf Canada event and making the cut in a national competition with over 90 competitors.
Vaidehi Shah was a three-time Skyland Tournament Champion and 2022 Somerset County Champion, was named captain of her high school golf team and earned All-State and All-Skyland Conference honors.
In the summer Tekla Fine-Lease won five out of eight tournaments and finished in the top 3 in all of them. Her lowest two-round score was a 145 (+1) in the NENY PGA JGT Summer Major #3 where she finished first in the tournament by eight strokes.
FALL SLATE
The team will play the same four tournaments that they did last fall, opening up with the Red Bandana Intercollegiate followed by the Navy Fall Invitational, Quinnipiac Classic and Lady Blue Hen Invitational to close out the fall schedule.
While the MAAC Championships doesn’t tee-off until April, the Bobcats need to carry their spring momentum into the new season — and aim to match or beat last year’s results.
