MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Penn State used a consistent, all-around team effort to secure its third tournament crown this season with a first-place finish at the Memphis Intercollegiate on Tuesday morning at the Par-71 Ridgeway Country Club.
The Nittany Lions have now finished in the top-10 at 8-of-10 events this season including wins at their home Nittany Lion Invitational and the Princeton Invitational back in the fall to go along with the win this week in Memphis.
Penn State started strong in the final round going 2-under over the first nine holes of play, but gave a few strokes back in the closing five holes completing the day at 4-over with a score of 288 to finish the tournament at 2-over (854) five strokes clear of Middle Tennessee in second at 7-over (859). Memphis (14-over), Troy (37-over) and Toledo (45-over) rounded out the top-5 in the 14-team field.
"It's disappointing to lose shots like we did coming in," mentioned Head Coach Denise St. Pierre. "Overall, I'm happy with the way we held it together and I love that it was truly a team effort and not just one or two players going really low."
Junior Megan McLean (Lebanon, Pa.) had a career-best third place finish after a 1-over round of 72 completing the tournament at 4-under. McLean's score of 209 is the fourth lowest 54-hole total in Penn State history.
Senior Jackie Rogowicz (Yardley, Pa.) finished the tournament tied for fourth at 1-over after a final round score of even-par, 71, while classmate Cara Basso (Downingtown, Pa.) finished just one shot back at 2-over following her Tuesday score of 1-over, 72.
Freshman Sarah Willis (Eaton, Ohio) and senior Lauren Waller (Canonsburg, Pa.) rounded out the day with scores of 73 (2-over) and 74 (3-over), respectively. Waller finished the tournament tied for 11th at 6-over (219) while Willis was tied for 30th at 15-over.
Playing as an individual junior Maddy Herr (New Hope, Pa.) wrapped her tournament tied for 21st at 10-over following a final round score of 72 (2-over).
The Nittany Lions carded 18 Birdies as a team during the final round pushing their season total to 429. If interested in pledging to our 'Birdies for the Heart' initiative please fill our THIS FORM or email head coach Denise St. Pierre at dxs10@psu.edu.
Penn State will tee it up again in 17 days at the Big Ten Championships on April 19-21.