M State sophomore Ellia Soydara is the 2024 NJCAA Division III National Champion, making school history as the first Spartan women’s golfer to earn national championship honors.
The event was held June 4-7 at the Chautauqua Golf Club in Chautauqua, New York.
Soydara sealed her win on Friday, June 7 by fighting through rain and heavy winds to shoot a final round 81, the best round in the field that day by four shots. The round was highlighted by seven consecutive pars on holes 10-16.
“I can’t say enough about her execution, course management and self-belief under pressure,” says Head Coach Jason Retzlaff. “She had a lot of ‘wow’ shots and had the discipline and maturity not to force the issue if she got in tough spots. I’ve said before that Ellia works as hard and is as prepared as anyone I have ever coached. It is so special to see that type of effort culminate in a moment like this. What an amazing week for Ellia and our Spartan golf program, with her winning the first individual women’s national title in school history.”
Coach Retzlaff also received high honors at the event, being named the NJCAA Division III Women’s Coach of the Tournament.
Soydara’s four-day total was 322 (81-79-81-81) and her margin of victory was seven shots. Runner-up was Haley Cassells of the College of DuPage, who shot 329 (83-81-80-85), and in third place was Ivy Burnett of the College of DuPage, with a 330 (80-82-81-87).
The championship win caps a historic 2023-2024 season for Soydara, who medaled in seven of the eight events she competed in and broke three M State women’s golf records, for lowest season scoring average (76.9; 14 rounds), lowest two-day score (137 at the Valley City State Invite, which also broke the Invite record) and lowest single round (66 at the Spartan Invitational, which also broke the women’s individual low round record for Pebble Lake Golf Course in Fergus Falls).
Only one player ever bettered Soydara in competition this season, as she finished in 2nd place in the only tournament she didn’t win. She is the first M State women’s golfer to be a two-time First Team All-American and was named M State Women’s Co-Student Athlete of the Year. She has signed a national letter of intent to play golf at Dickinson State University on a full-ride athletic scholarship.