JOHN'S ISLAND, S.C. – The Penn State women's golf team travels to South Carolina to compete in the Briar's Creek Invitational hosted by the College of Charleston at the Golf Club at Briar's Creek on Monday and Tuesday.
This marks the eighth-annual Briar's Creek Invitational and Penn State has competed in them all finishing fourth in 2018 and as high as second in 2014. The Nittany Lions are poised for another strong finish at the par-72, 6,110-yard course, however, only a pair of players from the starting five are familiar with the course.
The par-72, private golf community and course designed by Rees Jones will play at 6,110 yards. Last year's tournament was cancelled due to COVID-19. In 2019, then No. 23-ranked Michigan State won the team title with a three-round score of 856 (-8) ahead of runner-up Indiana (E) by eight strokes. The Spartans turned in the fourth-lowest 54-hole team total in tournament history behind North Carolina (848) in 2018, Florida (849) in 2017 and Campbell (854) in 2018. Allyson Geer-Park of Michigan State was the individual medalist shooting rounds of 67, 69 and 67 for a 13-under par 203. It was the lowest tournament total in tournament history surpassing Kelly Whaley of North Carolina (204) in 2018. Monday will feature a continuous 36-hole session beginning with a 9 a.m. shotgun start while Tuesday's final round will begin at 8 a.m. with tee times going off both the first and tenth holes.
LAST TIME OUT
- Penn State had a rough opening round and struggling to claw back into contention at the Lady Gator Invitational finishing 14th.
- Freshman Victoria Tip-Aucha (Vienna, Va.) gained 14 spots on the field during the final round carding her best round as a Nittany Lion with a 1-over, 71. Junior Sarah Willis (Eaton, Ohio) was the highest finisher for Penn State finishing in a tie for 35th.
THE FIELD
- A strong field of 18 teams will hit the links on Monday including three in the top-25 in the golfstat.com rankings led by No. 14 Maryland.
- The Nittany Lions come into the week at No. 61 and will essentially play a tournament within a tournament as seven other Big Ten schools will be competing alongside.
- Joining PSU and Maryland are Michigan (No. 34), Illinois (No. 38), Michigan State (No. 40), Ohio State (No. 63), Minnesota (No. 82), and Indiana (No. 168).
- Boston College, Campbell, College of Charleston, East Carolina, Kansas, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, Old Dominion, and UCF round out the field.
THE TEAM
- Penn State's lineup remains consistent from the previous two tournaments this season as Willis and Tip-Aucha will be joined by sophomores Mathilde Delavallade (Royan, France) and Isha Dhruva (Katy, Tx.) as well as senior Megan McLean (Lebanon, N.J.). If a spot should open in the field, junior Taylor Waller (Canonsburg, Pa.) will compete as an individual.
NEXT UP
- The Nittany Lions will tee it up again next week as they make their first appearance at the Pinetree Women's Collegiate in Kennesaw, Georgia on Monday and Tuesday.
Live scoring for the tournament is available HERE.