BURLINGTON – The Elon women's golf team completed a wire-to-wire victory at the Elon Women's Invitational on Tuesday, capturing the team championship at Alamance Country Club while sophomore Lilli Downer earned the first individual title of her collegiate career.
 
The Phoenix posted a final-round 290 (+6) to finish the 54-hole tournament at 9-over-par 861, winning the 15-team event by 21 strokes over CAA counterpart William & Mary. The championship is Elon's first tournament victory under head coach Susan Rosenstiel.
 
Downer carded a 1-under-par 70 Tuesday to finish at 3-under 210 (72-68-70) and share medalist honors with William & Mary's Abigail Avallone. It marked the first collegiate victory for Downer.
 
Elon placed three golfers among the top six individually. Emma Hansen finished fifth at 2-over 215, while Haley Paramore tied for sixth at 3-over 216.
 
ROUND 3 HIGHLIGHTS

• Downer entered Tuesday at 2-under and closed the tournament with her second consecutive under-par round. She made three birdies against two bogeys in the final round, playing both the front and back nine in 1-under 35. Birdies at Nos. 9, 12 and 17 helped her secure a share of the individual championship.
• Hansen finished alone in fifth after rounds of 68, 74 and 73. She recorded three birdies during Tuesday's final round en route to a 2-over 73.
• Paramore matched her opening-round score with an even-par 71 Tuesday. She made four birdies, including three on the front nine, to finish one shot behind Hansen.
• Milagros Giordani placed 13th at 8-over 221 (72-73-76), giving Elon four golfers among the top 13.
• Clémence Chouvin rounded out Elon's lineup in a tie for 25th at 12-over 225 (71-77-77).
• Competing as an individual, Kelly Zhao tied for 43rd at 18-over 231 (77-78-76).
• Elon carried a 15-shot advantage into the final round and added six shots to its margin Tuesday. The Phoenix was the only team in the field to finish the tournament fewer than 30 strokes over par.

 
TEAM LEADERBOARD (TOP 5)

Place	Team	To Par	R1	R2	R3	Total
1	Elon	+9	282	289	290	861
2	William & Mary	+30	293	293	296	882
3	Wofford	+32	291	291	302	884
4	Howard	+35	286	296	305	887
5	Western Carolina	+36	295	288	305	888

 
ELON ON INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD

Place	Name	To Par	R1	R2	R3	Total
T1	Lilli Downer	-3	72	68	70	210
5	Emma Hansen	+2	68	74	73	215
T6	Haley Paramore	+3	71	74	71	216
13	Milagros Giordani	+8	72	73	76	221
T25	Clémence Chouvin	+12	71	77	77	225
T43	Kelly Zhao (I)	+18	77	72	76	231
81	Garland Gould (I)	–	77	72	WD	–

 
UP NEXT
Elon's fall slate continues on Sept. 28-29 at the Tot Hill Farm Invitational, hosted by Charleston at the Tot Hill Farm Golf Club in Asheboro.
 
STAY POSTED
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