Oct. 22, 2017
Rehoboth Beach, Del.- The Penn State women's golf team pulled ahead of the nine-team field to secure a first-place finish at the Blue Hen Invitational this weekend in Delaware.
This is the second first-place finish in four tournaments for the Nittany Lions this season. They took home their first at the William & Mary Invitational back in September.
The team shot only one-over in the third round and finished with a three-round score of 889 (plus-25). Host, University of Delaware, took the second-place slot falling 10 strokes behind Penn State.
"Going into today and being tied, you've got to have those opportunities to really shine," said Head Coach Denise St. Pierre, "They did that. They refocused, paid attention to their game plan and carried it out. It was fun to see them get what, I think, they deserved and what they work hard for."
Junior Jackie Rogowicz (Yardley, Pa.) came in ahead of 58 players to claim individual second place. Rogowicz shot her best round of the tournament today, three-under 69, finishing even to par with a three-round score of 216.
Out of the 35 birdies Penn State had this weekend, Rogowicz had 14, leading not just the team in birdies, but also the entire tournament.
Penn State led the tournament in eagles, with junior Cara Basso (Downingtown, Pa.) having two of the three eagles throughout the weekend. Basso had her second eagle on the 13th hole of the third round today where she shot three-under 69 taking home individual fourth place.
Sophomore Maddy Herr (New Hope, Pa.) placed in the top ten, tied for eighth. Herr remained even to par throughout the majority of the round earning a two-over 74. She shot a 223 (plus-7) overall.
"The consistency of Maddy Herr was such an anchor for the team," St. Pierre praised, "Every single day she is right there and is consistent."
The Nittany Lions' junior Lauren Waller (Canonsburg, Pa.) and sophomore Megan McLean (Lebanon, N.J.) both secured top 20 finishes for the weekend. Waller, finishing 17th, shot a 230 (plus-14) while McLean tied for 18th with a three-round score of 231 (plus-15).
Junior Kamerine Taylor (Dublin, Oh.) contributed seven of the 35 birdies for the team. Taylor ended the weekend tied for 26th.
The team will be back on the road this weekend for the Landfall Tradition, Friday-Sunday, Oct. 27-29, in Wilmington, N.C.