Women’s golf ignited over the weekend at the Polar Bear Shootout in Brunswick, Maine, finishing first among 14 schools and 31 strokes clear of second place. The team set individual, team, and course records throughout both days. The standout performance came from Natalie Cheong ’27, who won the tournament and broke an 18-hole program and course record with a 6-under performance on Saturday, followed by a 1-under score on Sunday. Her 7-under total also set a new two-day program record.
Prior to this tournament, the Ephs started off their season with success, taking a sizable win at Wellesley in early September. That victory was followed by tournaments at Middlebury and at home, where the team finished in second and third place, respectively.
According to Zoe Wynn ’29, the Ephs entered this weekend’s competition with enthusiasm. “Last year, we won this tournament, so we were especially excited to play,” she said.
This energy was evident in the Ephs’ golf. Their 22-under-par winning team total broke the program record and was one of the top performances in Div. III history.
After her historic performance on Saturday, Cheong emphasized that her game plan was no different for the following day. “I told myself that I knew the course and just needed to carry the same trust and confidence I had from the first round,” she said.
Adding to the significance of the weekend, another Eph set a program and course record on Sunday. “Michelle [Ding ’28] also played incredibly well the second round with her 7-under [score], beating the course record I set just the day before,” Cheong said. “It was crazy golf.”
Ding’s round was lauded by her fellow Ephs, who all finished above 18th place in the 86-player field. Cheong led the pack in first, with Ding and Euna Lee ’26 — who was also under par both days of the tournament — tied in second. As a team, Wesleyan finished a distant second place at 9-over par.
The Ephs’ excitement throughout the tournament was evident, Cheong said. “We were sending birdie signs left and right — a team tradition where we flap our hands to signal a birdie to any teammate we pass on the course,” she said.
Wynn echoed Cheong’s sentiment. “If you see your teammate do really well, it makes [you] play better too,” she said.
Golf may be a solo sport, but the Ephs note that their team is a tight-knit community. “Even though our team is competitive, we’re all really happy for each other when we do well,” Wynn said. From trips to Goodrich Coffee Bar after morning lifts to “par-save” signals where they drop to a half-split kettlebell squat to show their support on the course, the Ephs’ impressive performance this weekend was a reflection of the strong team camaraderie that they have worked hard to build throughout the season.
Their recent victories and broken records showcase the countless hours spent both in the gym and on the course. Cheong recounted a team discussion last week about how to “bring the fire out of us,” and it seems that the Ephs did just that. Next weekend, the Ephs travel to Destin, Fla., for their last tournament of the season.
