EDINA, Minn. – In its final tune up before the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Championships, the Carleton women's golf team took home first place in a 12-team field made up of mostly MIAC competition on Sunday at Braemar Golf Course.  First-year Kate Yi finished off the best weekend of her collegiate career, taking home medalist honors.
 
After leading by 11 strokes following Saturday's opening round, the Knights totaled 303 strokes (+15) in Sunday's final round to finish six strokes clear of second-place St. Catherine.  It was the second time in its three tournaments this fall that Carleton has come away on top of the leaderboard. 
 
Yi followed up a two-under-par 70 yesterday with an even-par 72 today to finish the weekend two-under, one stroke ahead of Saint Benedict's Catherine Jance.  Teeing off on the back-nine, the Valencia, Calif., native went out in a one-over 37 before coming home in a one-under 35 to secure the even-par round.  Yi carded four birdies on the day, giving her a total of seven on the weekend to close out the most impressive tournament performance of her limited time in the Maize and Blue.
 
Senior Carter Sichol followed as the second of three Knights that finished in the top five and four that found their way into the top 10 on the individual leaderboard.  Sichol carded a two-over par 74 on Sunday to give her a weekend total of 145 (+1) and finished two spots behind Yi in third.  The senior finished with back-to-back birdies to close the round with positive momentum.  Like Yi, Sichol also carded four birdies in her round and tallied seven on the weekend.
 
Junior Mindy Zhai was close on Sichol's heels, firing a final round 71 (-1) to close the weekend in fourth place with 146 strokes (+2).  Sunday was Zhai's first round under par this fall, but her second top-five finish in three tournaments.  The Winter Garden, Fla., native started strong with back-to-back birdies, two of what would be six total birdies on the day to place her inside the top five.
 
Sophomore Anna Lee was the final Carleton player to finish inside the top 10.  Lee carded her second-straight four-over 76 to climb five spots and finish tied for ninth with 152 strokes (+8) on the weekend.  The Vernon Hills, Ill., native carded three birdies on the day and finished with an even-par 36 over her final nine holes to finish strong.
 
Senior Cynthia Lu carded a five-over 77 on Sunday to place her in a tie for 14th on the weekend with 153 total strokes (+9).  Fellow seniors Natalie Tatar and Sarah Zheng followed in 27th and 30th, respectively.  Tatar shot a nine-over 81 to give her a weekend total of 159 (+15), while Zheng turned in a 13-over 85 to total 161 strokes (+17).  First-year Nicole Zhang was the final competitor to represent Carleton with a 13-over 85 on Sunday to post a 26-over 170 and place her 56th.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton will have the weekend off next weekend as it gears up for the MIAC Championships beginning Saturday, October 4th.  The championships will be a three-round tournament held at Braemar Golf Course in Edina.