In the happiest place on earth, Quinnipiac golf captured the 2025 MAAC Championship, with a final total of 883 strokes.

In the MAAC preseason poll, Quinnipiac was voted the favorite, given the No. 1 spot, while the 2024 MAAC Title Champions, the University at Albany Great Danes, were pushed into No. 2.

“When we were picked one, we were like, ‘Yeah, that makes sense,’” sophomore Samatha Galantini said. “But we still have to prove it.”

And Quinnipiac did just that; they went out there and proved their No. 1 spot.

In a three-round tournament, the Bobcats never lagged behind their competitors, even with the 2024 MAAC Title Champions, the University at Albany Great Danes, biting at their heels. Quinnipiac was close to four-peating in the MAAC Championship during its 2023-24 campaign; however, it fell short to Albany by three strokes, tying for second with Fairfield University.

“I think the fact that they all knew that we should have won last year but didn’t was a motivation enough,” O’Connor said.

Despite the Great Danes shooting only two over on the second round, compared to the Bobcats’ five over, the first round put the Great Danes in a hole they could not dig themselves out of. Quinnipiac captured the title, shooting 19 strokes over par. Albany was their closest competitor, with a 13-stroke difference separating the two.

“My team played like they have practiced hard for this and would not be satisfied with anything but a win,” head coach John O’Connor wrote to the Chronicle. “It was clear to me that each one of my players wanted to win this and they stayed focused and determined all three days.”

Its fourth MAAC title in five years is not the only title Quinnipiac is bringing back to Hamden, with freshman Sophia Fujita’s stellar performance awarding her the McLeod Trophy.

Fujita wiped the floor against her competitors, with a three-day total of 217 strokes, only shooting one stroke over par.

“Sophia is just a fierce competitor that rises to the occasion and did not want to lose,” O’Connor wrote.

Just looking at the scorecard, it was obvious the title belonged to Fujita.

The Torrenca, California native alone shot four birdies on round one, while shooting even on the remaining holes, to put herself in a comfortable position going into round two, with a score of 68.

“The team understands that Sophia marches to her own beat and the team understands that her focus and drive to win is what they all strive for,” O’Connor wrote.

Fujita was also named to the All-MAAC First Team.

The Bobcats’ strong performance across the board aided them to the conference title, with three other Bobcats scoring in the top ten.

Senior Fuge Zhang, who was named the MAAC Golfer of the Year during Quinnipiac’s 2022-23 campaign, tied for second with a total of 221 strokes.

Fujita and Zhang were followed by freshman Vaidehi Shah, tying for second with a total of 222 strokes and Galantini in eighth with a total of 225 strokes.

MAAC awards were also given to some Bobcats, with Galantini being named to the All-MAAC First Team and freshman Marisa Flores being named to the All-MAAC Second Team.

Along with the MAAC title, Quinnipiac has also clinched its spot back in the NCAA Tournament, where it looks to improve its national play on the biggest stage.

“The absolute best teams in the country will now be their opponents,” O’Connor wrote. “Obviously they want to show the golf world how good they are and I will be there supporting them and appreciating their effort.”

The Bobcats’ last trip to the NCAA Regionals was during their 2022-23 campaign, where they placed last in all three rounds they competed in.

The NCAA Regionals are set to take place from May 5-7, the location is set to be determined.

“Regionals is different,” O’Connor wrote.