LAKE ELMO, Minn. – Carleton College sophomore Carter Sichol took over the top spot on the individual leaderboard early in the final round and captured medalist honors at the MIAC Women's Golf Championships. The No. 21-ranked Knights finished the 54-hole tournament at Royal Golf Club in second place out of 10 teams.
 
"The first day was very tough for the team, but we hung in there and battled back," said Carleton head coach Sloan Wallgren. "I'm very proud of the team for grinding it out."
 
The course at the Royal Golf Club was designed by Hall of Fame golfers Annika Sorenstam and Arnold Palmer.
 
Carleton concluded the three-day event with a team score of 957 (330-313-314). No. 8 St. Catherine University took advantage of the Knights' turbulent start to the tourney and captured the team title with a score of 930 (307-312-311). These two programs have combined to win 7 of the last 8 conference championships. No. 23 Bethel finished in third place (320-327-330=977) this year..
 
This is the ninth time in the last 12 years that Carleton has posted a top-two result at the MIAC tournament, nearly double the next closest figure for any other school in the conference (5 by St. Catherine).
 
Sichol carded a final-round 74 (+2) and finished with a three-day total of 227 shots (75-78-74, +11), one stroke ahead of defending champion Kyra Venne of St. Kate's (78-79-71=228). Sichol is the sixth Knight to win the individual title at the conference tournament, with that group capturing the crown a total of nine times (see chart below). She won all four tournaments that she has played during the fall portion of the season.
 
"Carter played great this weekend," Wallgren said. "It was a cold and windy three days on a very difficult course. She had some ups and downs over the three days, but was able to focus and finish strong to win the event."
 
Sichol and Paige Hillman of St. Catherine were tied for second going into the final round, one stroke behind Hillman's teammate Grace Petzold.
 
While both Hillman and Petzold got off to slow starts, Sichol played the front nine at even par. Venne moved into contention after playing two-under par over the day's first 11 holes. After Sichol bogeyed No. 15, her lead over Venne was down to one stroke. The Carleton sophomore responded with a birdie on the par-3 No. 16 to regain a two-shot advantage, giving her an extra cushion heading into back-to-back par-5s to close out the tournament.
 
Sarah Zheng and Mindy Zhai joined Sichol on the All-Championships team by virtue of top-10 individual finishes. All three Knights will receive All-MIAC status when the all-conference squad is announced after the spring portion of the season.
 
Zheng climbed three more spots during the final round and placed sixth overall at 237 (+21, 82-78-77). She improved her score in each successive round and finished the tournament with a team best five birdies. Monday's final round included an eagle on the par-4 No. 6. Zheng's tee shot left her about 150 yards away before holing out her approach shot.
 
Zhai tied for ninth place overall with a 54-hole total of 243 (+27, 89-75-79). Although she did not have a final round birdie, her steady play on Monday still led to an six-spot improvement on the leaderboard.
 
Natalie Tatar finished 18th overall at 250 (+34, 84-82-84) and was Carleton's other scorer during the final round. She collected her first birdie of the tournament on hole No. 15.
 
Cynthia Lu tied for 28th place after a final-round 85 brought her tournament score to 259 (+43, 90-84-85). She joined her teammates in improving her placement on the leaderboard during the final round.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton will head south for play on Oct. 15-17 at the Golfweek D-III Fall Invitational at the Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort in Miramar Beach, Fla.
 
Carleton Golfers to win MIAC Championships Individual Titles
2013-14   --   Shannon Holden (Fy.)
2014-15   --   Grace Gilmore (Jr.)
2015-16   --   Grace Gilmore (Sr.)
2016-17   --   Alyssa Akiyama (Fy.)
2017-18   --   Ziyi Wang (Jr.)
2018-19   --   Ziyi Wang (Sr.)
2019-20   --   Alyssa Akiyama (Sr.)
2020-21   --   Kristin Miyagi (Jr.)
2023-24   --   Carter Sichol (So.)
 
Recent Carleton team finishes at the MIAC Championships
2012-13   --   2nd place
2013-14   --   2nd place
2014-15   --   1st place
2015-16   --   2nd place
2016-17   --   2nd place
2017-18   --   1st place
2018-19   --   1st place
2019-20   --   3rd place
2020-21   --   3rd place
2021-22   --   4th place
2022-23   --   1st place
2023-24   --   2nd place