Women's Golf Joins MAAC as Associate Member
June 11, 2009 | Women's Golf
Edison, N.J. - The Boston University women's golf team will join the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) as an associate member for the 2009-10 season, the league announced on Thursday afternoon. The move will allow BU to be able to compete for an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament at the MAAC Championships each April, beginning in 2012.
"This truly is a move in the right direction for our women's golf program, and we're looking forward to that team immediately transitioning into the MAAC along with Albany and Hartford," Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics Mike Lynch said. "Our student-athletes want and deserve the chance to compete in a conference with an automatic qualifier for the NCAA tournament, and this move will provide them with that opportunity."
Currently, Fairfield and Siena College compete in the MAAC, while Niagara plans to add women's golf next season. Albany, and Hartford, fellow America East members, will also become associate members and will be eligible to receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Women's Golf Championship starting in 2012.
"The Boston University women's golf team is very excited to be able to join the MAAC starting next season," said head coach Bruce Chalas. "Joining the MAAC Conference means the team will be able to travel to Florida each April to play 54 holes for the conference title and eventually having an opportunity to qualify for the NCAA Championship."
BU finished second at the 2009 America East Women's Golf Championship under the tutelage of Chalas, currently in his first year. Sophomore Ana Johnson, an America East All-Academic honoree, completed her 2009 season on a strong note as she recorded a championship-best round on the first day of the America East Golf Championships, when she carded an impressive 75. She went on to place second with a two-day total of 159. Johnson along with classmate Dana DeStefano and rising senior Kaitlyn Mardeusz will lead the Terriers in this new endeavor, as they have been named tri-captains for the 2009-10 season.
The 2010 MAAC Men's and Women's Golf Championships will take place April 29 through May 2 at the Celebration Golf Club in Celebration, Fla.
