They sure like the rain, don’t they? Amidst a fierce nor’easter that soaked New England and much of the East Coast over the weekend, Middlebury women’s golf won their third straight tournament at the Williams Invitational.
Buoyed by a career-best performance from Teegan Duffy ’28 — +3 in 36 holes, good for a runner-up individual finish — the #5 Panthers eked out a one stroke win over the #7 Williams Ephs. The junior continued her meteoric rise, reaching medalist status after finishing T14 at the home George Phinney Classic and T11 at Bowdoin’s Polar Bear Shootout earlier this season.
The tournament began as the Panthers sizzled to a seven stroke lead on Saturday, behind Duffy’s two-over 73, and two 74’s from Season Wei ’29 and Julia Hua ’29. Captain Ella Han ’27 rounded off the top four with a 76. They managed 10 birdies, and kept mistakes to a minimum, with a mere 16 bogeys-or-worse among the four.
As the rain fell on Sunday in Williamstown, the Panthers’ determination became key. “We’re resilient, especially when it comes to competing under bad weather,” Wei said. They remained steady, carding six birdies, staying confident in their abilities and limiting blowup holes. In fact, the group carded only one double bogey on Sunday. It helped that Duffy rolled to a bogey-free, one-under back nine.
When the rain cleared and all twelve teams headed back to the clubhouse, Wei and her teammates frantically refreshed the scoreboard. “+30” it read. “+31” for Williams. With three wins now in the books, a happy ride home awaited the Panthers as they escaped rain-drenched western Massachusetts.
Playing through the rain has been the squad’s specialty, as all three weekend wins have come despite significant precipitation, from a drizzle to a downpour. And the Panthers’ wins have not been blowouts, with the last two coming down to the final hole.
At the home George Phinney Classic, the score was tied headed into the final hole (#3 at the Ralph) when Duffy carded a bogey and her Williams counterpart hit her approach into the deep fescue adjacent to the green, before hacking her way to a quintuple bogey.
Wei attributes the Panthers’ success to the group’s closeness off the course. “We’re friends off the course, and can talk to each other at any time,” the reigning NESCAC Rookie of the Year said. “We believe in ourselves more because we’re closer off the course,” she continued, adding that her teammates inspire her to “push towards what I’m capable of.”
To continue their streak, the Panthers must stay humble, and take a “next shot” approach, as Wei called it. They have two tournaments remaining in the fall season, and can establish themselves as one of the nation’s premier D3 programs before NESCACs and NCAAs in the spring.
When I asked if rain was in the forecast this weekend against Wesleyan, Wei laughed: “I feel a boost of confidence playing in the rain now,” she said.
If there’s a drizzle this weekend, watch out — but regardless of weather, look for the tight-knit Panthers to light up Middletown with a birdie barrage.
Kanan Clifford '28.5 (he/him) is a Sports Editor.
Kanan is a probable Molecular Biology/Biochemistry major, with additional interests in history and politics. At Middlebury, he sails, is on the board of the South Asian Students Association, and is an avid baker!
