Hawks Announce Women's Golf as 18th Varsity Sport
MANCHESTER, N.H. – Saint Anselm College announced the addition of women's golf as a varsity sports offering on Monday. The institution will now sponsor 18 NCAA Division II varsity sports programs, 10 for women and eight for men.
Women's golf is expected to first represent the College in intercollegiate play beginning in the 2022-23 academic year – the team will compete as a member of the Northeast-10 Conference alongside Adelphi, American International, Assumption, Franklin Pierce, Le Moyne, Saint Rose, and Stonehill.
The Hawks will practice and host tournaments at the Derryfield Country Club in Manchester. The NE10 women's golf championship is hosted each fall and the winning team receives automatic qualification to the NCAA regionals conducted each spring. Other NCAA teams and individuals are considered for selection on an at-large basis.
The search for a Head Coach is already underway and a candidate will be selected in the near future.
"I am proud of what our student-athletes have accomplished during my time on the Hilltop, both academically and athletically," said Dr. Joseph A. Favazza, President of the College. "The addition of women's golf at Saint Anselm will help the College attract, educate and transform future students in the coming years."
Women's golf is one of the fastest growing NCAA Division II sports. Just under half of Division II colleges and universities sponsored the program in 2009-10 (144), but in 2019-20, that number had risen to 196. Presently, more than 62% of NCAA Division II institutions sponsor women's golf as a varsity sport.
"Adding women's golf will increase opportunities for female athletics participation at Saint Anselm, at a time when the sport has grown in popularity, both regionally and nationally," said Director of Athletics Daron Montgomery. "We are excited to begin play just one year from now, in the fall of 2022."
The modern-day men's golf team began play in the 1961-62 academic year and the squad has welcomed several female golfers over the years.
- Releases provide by Saint Anselm athletic communications
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 14 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
