Women's Golf Opens Spring Break at Briar’s Creek InvitationalWomen's Golf Opens Spring Break at Briar’s Creek Invitational

Women's Golf Opens Spring Break at Briar’s Creek Invitational

The Penn State women's golf team opens Spring Break week at the 12th-annual Briar's Creek Invitational hosted by the College of Charleston at the Golf Club at Briar's Creek.

JOHN’S ISLAND, S.C.  – The Penn State women's golf team opens Spring Break week at the 12th-annual Briar's Creek Invitational hosted by the College of Charleston at the Golf Club at Briar's Creek.

The Nittany Lions have been in the field at each of the previous 11 Briar's Creek Invitationals finishing tied for fourth in 2023 and as high as second in 2014. Penn State is poised for another strong showing at the par-72, 6,152-yard course this week.

Due to impending weather forecast for Monday, the start of the tournament will be moved up to a 10 a.m. shotgun start on Sunday with as many continuous holes to be played before dark. No golf is scheduled for Monday with an 8:45 a.m. shotgun start slated for Tuesday to complete whatever golf remains prior to the start of the final round.

Live scoring for the event is available HERE.
 
THE FIELD

  • The host College of Charleston looks to regain its title against 17 additional teams this week headlined by several teams from Power 4 Conferences.
  • Penn State is one of six Big Ten teams as the Nittany Lions are joined down south by Maryland, Minnesota, Iowa, Purdue and Rutgers.
  • NC State, Florida State, SMU and Miami represent the ACC while Campbell, East Carolina, Furman, Kent State, Old Dominion and Tulsa round out the 17-team field.
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THE TEAM

  • Penn State’s Lineup remains consistent from the first two events in the fall with minor tweaks as freshman Lauren Thompstone (Paris, France) slots back into the starting five for senior Jami Morris (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) after not playing two weeks ago in Arizona.
  • Senior classmates Drew Nienhaus (St. Louis, Mo.) and Michelle Cox (Allentown, Pa.) remain atop the lineup with freshman Jiratchaya Jiratthitinun (Bangkok, Thailand) and junior Myranda Quinton (Burlington, Ontario) rounding out the starting five with freshman Gwendolyn Powell (Madison Township, Pa.) making her second-straight appearance as an individual.
  • Nienhaus is currently leading the team with a 72.65 stroke average only slightly above the 73.10 of Jiratthitinun while Cox is averaging a 73.43 through seven events this season.

LAST TIME OUT

  • The Nittany Lions are coming off a sixth-place finish two weeks ago at the Westbrook Invitational following a 9-under, 279, in the final round, the third-lowest 18-hole score relative to par in program history. Penn State finished the week 7-under, 857, marking its best finish in three years and the third-lowest 54-hole score relative to par all-time.
  • Nienhaus finished February the same way she started it with a bogey-free 6-under, 66, in the final round, the same way she closed out the PDI Intercollegiate to open the month, securing her second top-10 finish of the season and the third of her career in a tie for sixth at 8-under, 208.
  • The 8-under, 208, is a new career-best for Nienhaus and is tied for the fourth-lowest 54-hole score relative to par in Penn State women’s golf history while her final round 6-under, 66, is tied for the third lowest 18-hole score all-time.
  • Cox also finished the week in red figures at 3-under, 213, following a 3-under, 69, in the final round on Monday falling just outside the top-20 in a tie for 21st in the 78-player field.
  • Nienhaus carded red figures in all three rounds and finished the week bogey-free over her final 23 holes while Cox finished the week with just a singular bogey over her final 28 holes going 6-under over that stretch.

NEXT UP
Penn State will have the next few weeks off from competition before closing the month of March at the Clemson Invitational on March 28-30.