April 24, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. ââ'¬" The Penn State women's golf team competed in the final round of the Big Ten Championship and shot a 294 plus-6, for a tournament score of 870 plus-6. The Lions finished in eighth place but played a great tournament in a very difficult Big Ten conference field.
The team was led by two newcomers Jackie Rogowicz (Yardley, Pa.) and Lauren Waller (Canonsburg, Pa.) who both shot 73 plus-1 in the final round. Waller finished the tournament with a score of 213 3-under, and earned her third top ten finish of the season, finishing tied for ninth with two other players. Rogowicz finished tied for 30th shooting 220 plus-4.
Newcomer Cara Basso (Downingtown, Pa.) played consistently well all tournament shooting a 74, 75, and another 74 in the final round to finish with a total score of 223 plus-7.
Sophomore Ariana Coyle Diez (Mount Merrion, Dublin, Ireland) carded one birdie on her way to an 80 plus-8 in the final round. However, with the help of Diez's first two round scores, especially round one which she shot a 69 3-under, she was able to finish tied for 39th with a 222 plus-6.
The two seniors Grace Chung (Richmond Hill, Ontario) and Halley Morell (Brecksville, Ohio) topped off their successful collegiate golf careers today.
Morell spent two seasons with the Lions and competed in every single tournament this season, earning two top five finishes. Her best finish came in the tournament before this, the River Landing Classic, which she tied for third. Morell hit three birdies and shot a 74 plus-2 in her final round at the Big Ten Championship and ended with a tournament score of 227 plus-11.
Chung has been starting in the lineup since she was a freshman, and has led and mentored the team for the last two seasons. Chung played in seven tournaments this year, and finished off her last one carding a team-high four birdies while shooting a 78 plus-6. She ended the tournament tied for 65th with a score of 228 plus-12.
Northwestern University and Ohio State are co-champions in this year's Big Ten Championship. Both teams ended with a team score of 852 12-under. While August Kim from the University of Purdue won the individual title with a score of 207 9-under.
Team Standings:
T-1.) Northwestern (852, -12)
T-1.) Ohio State (852, -12)
3.) Purdue (859, -5)
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8.) Penn State (870, +6)
Player Leaderboard:
1.) August Kim (PU) -9
2.) Katja Pogacar (OSU) -8
3.) Brooke Ferrell (WIS) -7
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T-9.) Lauren Waller (PSU) -3