Saturday, February 8
Melbourne, Fla. (Duran Golf Club)
8:30 AM
Princeton University
vs
Columbia Classic
Photo by: Jerry Green
Catherine Rao Storms Back To Win Columbia Classic
February 09, 2025 | Women's Golf
Scoring/Results
For the second time in her career, Catherine Rao has finished atop the leaderboard at the Columbia Classic, this time securing solo medalist honors in the event after sharing the title in 2023.
Rao's third career medalist honors came from off the pace as she rallied from an opening +1 in the first round to shoot -7 over her final 36 to overtake Illinois State's Jinyoung Yun who had led by two shots after the second round.
Rao was -2 through Saturday's first two rounds to sit in second place after 36 holes. In the morning, she carded a 73 (+1) before rallying with a 69 (-3) in the second round to sit two strokes off the lead entering Sunday's final round. Something clicked for Rao sitting on the 12th tee during her first round. At that moment, she was +3 through 11 holes, and starting with a birdie on the 385-yard par-4 12th, she birded six of her final 25 holes on Saturday to charge to the second spot.
Rao finished the comeback in style on Sunday, posting six birdies en route to a 68 (-4) to secure a three-stroke victory and record her second individual medalist honor of the season after also winning at the Nittany Lion Invitational in September.
She birded three of her first 10 holes to reach -5 for the tournament, but a bogey on 11 provided a temporary setback. Rao settled in after that bogey, however, and rattled off three birdies in a four-hole stretch from holes 13-16 to pull away.
Olivia Duan started hot on Saturday, shooting an opening-round 68 (-4) which included three consecutive birdies on holes 3-5 and back-to-back birdies on 15 and 16. In the afternoon's second round, Duan took time to find that opening-round form as she gave five shots back to the field before responding with two birdies over her final four holes to end the day at -1 overall and in third place.
On Sunday, Duan shot an even-par 72 to post a fourth place finish. Classmate Abra Richmond responded to a tough first 36 holes and an even-par 72 of her own on Sunday to improve 18 spots and finish T-25.
The Tigers finished the opening day's 36 holes in second place, two shots behind Illinois State.
On Sunday, the team standing was the same as Illinois State was -2 as a team while Princeton was even for a final margin of four strokes between the two teams in what was a clear two-team race with Dartmouth third 16 strokes behind the Tigers.
Princeton's Results At The Columbia Classic
1. Catherine Rao (-6; 73-69-68--210)
4. Olivia Duan (-1; 68-75-72--215)
T11. Victoria Liu (+5; 72-73-676--221)
T25. Abra Richmond (+11;78-77-72--227)
T44. Flora Zhang (+15; 77-77-77--231)
For the second time in her career, Catherine Rao has finished atop the leaderboard at the Columbia Classic, this time securing solo medalist honors in the event after sharing the title in 2023.
Rao's third career medalist honors came from off the pace as she rallied from an opening +1 in the first round to shoot -7 over her final 36 to overtake Illinois State's Jinyoung Yun who had led by two shots after the second round.
Rao was -2 through Saturday's first two rounds to sit in second place after 36 holes. In the morning, she carded a 73 (+1) before rallying with a 69 (-3) in the second round to sit two strokes off the lead entering Sunday's final round. Something clicked for Rao sitting on the 12th tee during her first round. At that moment, she was +3 through 11 holes, and starting with a birdie on the 385-yard par-4 12th, she birded six of her final 25 holes on Saturday to charge to the second spot.
Rao finished the comeback in style on Sunday, posting six birdies en route to a 68 (-4) to secure a three-stroke victory and record her second individual medalist honor of the season after also winning at the Nittany Lion Invitational in September.
She birded three of her first 10 holes to reach -5 for the tournament, but a bogey on 11 provided a temporary setback. Rao settled in after that bogey, however, and rattled off three birdies in a four-hole stretch from holes 13-16 to pull away.
Olivia Duan started hot on Saturday, shooting an opening-round 68 (-4) which included three consecutive birdies on holes 3-5 and back-to-back birdies on 15 and 16. In the afternoon's second round, Duan took time to find that opening-round form as she gave five shots back to the field before responding with two birdies over her final four holes to end the day at -1 overall and in third place.
On Sunday, Duan shot an even-par 72 to post a fourth place finish. Classmate Abra Richmond responded to a tough first 36 holes and an even-par 72 of her own on Sunday to improve 18 spots and finish T-25.
The Tigers finished the opening day's 36 holes in second place, two shots behind Illinois State.
On Sunday, the team standing was the same as Illinois State was -2 as a team while Princeton was even for a final margin of four strokes between the two teams in what was a clear two-team race with Dartmouth third 16 strokes behind the Tigers.
Princeton's Results At The Columbia Classic
1. Catherine Rao (-6; 73-69-68--210)
4. Olivia Duan (-1; 68-75-72--215)
T11. Victoria Liu (+5; 72-73-676--221)
T25. Abra Richmond (+11;78-77-72--227)
T44. Flora Zhang (+15; 77-77-77--231)
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
Princeton Athletics 2023-24 Highlights
Tuesday, June 04
Highlights from 2022 Gary Walters ’67 PVC Awards Banquet
Wednesday, June 22
Princeton Athletics 2021-22 Highlights
Monday, June 06
Thank You for Roaring Forward on TAGD 2021
Wednesday, December 01