Playing in the ultra-competitive CIAC Division I Tournament, the Greenwich High School girls golf team finished in third place out of 15 teams posting a strong team aggregate score of 336 at Tashua Knolls Golf Course on June 3.

The third-place finish at the state tournament concluded a season that saw the Cardinals also post a stellar second-place finish at the FCIAC Golf Championships, held at Tashua Knolls Golf Course as well.

New Canaan won the CIAC Division I state Tournament championship, registering a team aggregate score of 326. Trumbull placed second in the team standings with a score of 329, followed by Greenwich’s 326. Cheshire (337), Amity (352), Newtown (366), Darien (374), Fairfield Ludlowe (375), Glastonbury (377), Simsbury (385) and William Hall (388) finished 4th-10th, respectively in the Division I Tournament.

Pacing the Cardinals at the Division I state tournament was captain Caroline McShea. A senior, McShea shot a 78 at Tashua Knolls, tying her for fourth place overall in the tournament.

“She was steady all day, as usual, and led our team,” said Greenwich coach Brian Dayton, who concluded his first season at the helm.

McShea played at the No. 1 spot in the lineup throughout the season for the Cardinals, who finished the regular season with a record of 8-1, including a 4-0 mark in the FCIAC West Division, giving them the division championship.

Junior Ally Bauer, who turned in a successful season at the No. 2 position for Greenwich, did not compete in the Division I Tournament due to a wrist injury she suffered while playing in the FCIAC Tournament.

Juyeon Paek of Cheshire was the Division I tourney’s winner/medalist, shooting a sizzling 66. Laniah Moffett of Waterbury co-op placed second with a score of 74, while Grace Codd from Trumbull carded a 75 for a third-place finish. McShea tied Chloe Cui of New Canaan for fourth place with a round of 78.

Charlotte Langhorne, also a senior captain for Greenwich, finished in a three-way tie for eighth place by shooting an 81 at the state tournament.

“Charlotte shot her best round of the season, an 81,” Dayton said. “Her length off the tee and solid putting contributed to her great round.”

Paige McKenna from Fairfield Warde shot a 79 for a sixth-place finish, while Morgan Peterson of Glastonbury posted a score of 80 and placed seventh. Erica Laurentino (Trumbull) and Carinna Anastasio (Shelton) also shot an 81 to tie Langhorne for eighth place.

Zarah Hillman, also a senior captain, finished in an 18th place tie for the Cardinals, carding an 85, which, as Dayton pointed out, was one of her best rounds of the season. Senior Bella Crasto, a captain as well, shot a 92, as did Greenwich teammate Ellery Talbot, at the Division I Tournament.

Dayton provided insight on his first season coaching the Cardinals girls golf team.

“I had a wonderful experience coaching the team this season,” Dayton said. “While I was a new varsity coach, I learned a great deal from former coach Taner Karakas last year, serving as his JV coach. Overall, I think the team had a really solid season. We won the FCIAC Western Division and fell just short of winning the FCIAC tournament at Fairchild Wheeler a few weeks ago, taking second place behind New Canaan. I look forward to being with the Lady Cards again next spring and I know we will compete again for an FCIAC and State title with the return of Ally Bauer and Ellery Talbot to the varsity squad.”

On June 7, the State Open took place at Mohegan Sun and Bauer earned a sixth-place finish for the Cardinals, carding a 76. Paek of Cheshire won the 22-player State Open Tournament, shooting a 71. McShea posted a round of 86 for the Cardinals.