W. Golf Finishes Third in Hanover

Freshman Ali Bode tied for first place yesterday at the Dartmouth Invitational at the Hanover Country Club in Hanover. Her efforts helped the Harvard women’s golf team surge from eighth place to third in a field of 17 teams.

The Crimson fired a 303 yesterday, the best one-day total it has ever had and a marked improvement over Saturday’s total of 326.

Last year Harvard also placed third at the Dartmouth Invitational, but this year’s two-day total of 629 was a 21-stroke improvement over last year’s performance.

Bode shot a five-over 77 on Saturday to put her in an eight-way tie for seventh place.

The rest of the team was unable to capitalize on the unexpected good weather and finished the day with scores in the 80s. Senior Jennifer Cronan was tied for 24th after the first day of competition. Sophomores Debbi Amanti and Jessica Hazlett and freshman Emily Balmert all improved their scores over the back nine.

The Crimson continued to progress on Sunday, with the entire team shooting in the 70s—an occurrence that hasn’t happened in recent memory.

“We had a successful day individually and as a team. It was a really good comeback for everyone,” Harvard coach Kevin Rhoades said.

Hazlett had an 11-shot improvement over her day-one total, shooting a four-over 76. Bode shot five birdies and ended the day with a one-under 71. She tied Columbia’s Sara Ovadia for first but lost the playoff.

“We’re very excited about our freshmen,” Cronan said. “We played really well today, and I think that’s a sign of good things to come.”

Harvard lost one of its best players, Katie Loncke, in addition to two of last year’s seniors. Its performance this weekend, however, especially yesterday, shows that it won’t let these losses prevent it from having a successful year.

Balmert, the other freshman, shot a 78 yesterday, as did Amanti and Cronan. The team’s one-day total was a nine-stroke improvement over the previous record.

Harvard will play in the Princeton Invitational next Saturday and Sunday at Princeton.

—Staff writer Elyse N. Hanson can be reached at ehanson@fas.harvard.edu.