March 10, 2017
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. ââ'¬" The Penn State women's golf team competed in the final round of the River Landing Classic, shooting a 292 on the day and finishing in first place, seven strokes ahead of the second placed team.
The Nittany Lions had an opportunity heading into today to jump into first place, being only two strokes behind East Tennessee St. and they made the most of that opportunity. The team had the lowest round score of the day going just 4-over par, which was four strokes better than any other team, setting them up for the title win.
Every player on the team shot well all tournament and contributed to this win. Of the five players in the starting lineup, no one shot above a 75 in the final round, and the stroke difference between the lowest and highest scores on the team was four. Three out of the five starters finished in the top-10 in the player leaderboard.
Sophomore Jackie Rogowicz (Yardley, Pa.) joined Hailey Hrynewich from the University of Ohio as the two runner-ups in the individual medals. Rogowicz's three round scores were a 72, 73, and 73 leading her to a tournament score of 218, plus-2. This tied Rogowicz's season-low tournament score, and notched her, her best finish of the season and her second top-5 finish this year.
Senior Kate Granahan (Allentown, Pa.) and sophomore Lauren Waller (Canonsburg, Pa.), also earned themselves top-10 finishes. Granahan gets her first top-5 finish of her career, scoring a 73 in her final round and ending with a tournament score of 219, finishing tied for fourth place. While Waller, shot four birdies through her back nine today on her way to a 75, ending with a score of 220, tied for sixth place. Both players earned their second top-10 finish of the season.
Sophomore Cara Basso (Downingtown, Pa.) finished just outside the top-10, tying two other players for 11th place. Basso finished strong, hitting three straight birdies on her back nine to end with a 71, 1-under in her final round, the lowest on the team.
Newcomer Maddy Herr (New Hope, Pa.) finished tied for 17th with a tournament score of 225, as she shot a 75 in the final round. Penn State's individual player, newcomer Ashni Dhruva (Katy, Tx.) hit one birdie today and finished the tournament with a score of 241.
The Lions spring season has started just the way they wanted, as they have finished in the top-10 in both of their tournaments. This is the second tournament championship they have won this season; their first was the Nittany Lion Invitational back in the fall.
The team has a week break before they head to Charleston, S.C. to compete in the Briar's Creek Invitational.
Final Team Standings:
1.) Penn State (878, +14)
2.) East Tennessee St. (885, +21)
3.) ECU (887, +23)
Final Player Leaderboard:
1.) Hee Ying Loy (East Tenn. St.) -3
T-2.) Jackie Rogowicz (PSU) +2
T-4.) Kate Granahan (PSU) +3
T-6.) Lauren Waller (PSU) +4