,DUDLEY, Mass. (10/10/25) - The Nichols College women's golf team heads to Hartford, Conn. to compete in the first Conference of New England (CNE) Women's Golf Championship this weekend. The University of Hartford will be the host of the two day 36 hole competition at the Keney Park Golf Course in Windsor, Connecticut.

The Nichols College women's golf team has put together an impressive 2025 season marked by steady improvement with new Head Coach Dom Lemieux. After opening the year with a sixth-place finish at the weather-shortened Hartford Hawks Invitational, the Bison bounced back with a runner-up performance at the Westfield State Invitational, posting a team score of 356 (+72) to finish ahead of four other programs.  The Bison capped off their strong stretch with a dominant dual match victory over Westfield State on October 7, sweeping the top six individual spots and winning 348–426. With consistent play throughout the lineup and growing momentum, the Bison enter the CNE Championship poised for a confident finish to their fall campaign, marking the first Championship appearance for Coach Lemieux.

Junior Felicia Zander has been one of the Bison's top performers this season. She has led Nichols in every event, including a first-place finish at the Westfield Dual with a score of 85 (+14) and a runner-up finish at the Westfield Invitational with an 80 (+9). Her consistency and improvement earned her the CNE Rookie of the Week award on September 15, 2025.

Senior Kaitlin Baca has been a reliable and steady presence for the Bison. Her experience has anchored the lineup, contributing key performances including a second-place finish at the Westfield Dual and a sixth-place showing at the Westfield Invitational, both with scores of 86 (+15).

Sophomores Isabella Fleury and Eva Melanson have shown continued growth throughout the fall. Fleury earned a third-place finish against Westfield with a score of 87 (+16) and posted an 87 (+17) at the Hartford Hawks Women's Invitational. Melanson added depth to the lineup with a strong fourth-place finish against Westfield, carding a 90 (+19).

Junior Gabrielle Maranchie and freshman Cynthia Fang have also contributed to the Bison's success. Maranchie posted a solid 94(+23) at the Westfield State University Fall Invitational, while Fang showed promise in her first season, achieving her best performance with a 93 (+22) versus Westfield.
 
This year marks the first season for women's golf in the CNE, making this the first-ever CNE Women's Golf Championship. Five institutions, Gordon College, Nichols College, Suffolk University, the University of Hartford, and the University of New England, currently sponsor women's golf and will compete in the tournament.

Tournament Information:
Host: Hartford University
Course:  Keney Park Golf Course
Par: 73
Teams: 5