Women's golf wins Badger Invitational
Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2021 10:51 pmFrom SMUMustangs.com:
Women's Golf Wins Badger Invitational
VERONA, Wisconsin- SMU's women's golf team erased a 12-stroke deficit to win the Badger Invitational Tuesday. Head coach Lauren Mason becomes the third SMU head coach to win her debut tournament, and earns the program's first win since March 2019.
The Mustangs entered the day in fifth place, but surged up the leaderboard as the only squad in the 12-team field to break par at University Ridge Golf Course in the third round. The Mustangs finished the tournament at +11, two strokes ahead of second-place Notre Dame. SMU's final-round -4 is the best round since February 2020.
"We could not have asked for a better way to start the season," Mason said. "I am so proud of this team for trusting the process and digging deep today. This win is only the beginning for this team."
Four SMU players finished in the top-20 of the 71-player field, led by Katie James and Kennedy Pedigo, who tied for third. James, Pedigo, and Ashley Chow all had their collegiate best finishes, with James and Chow both turning in the best scorecard of their collegiate careers Tuesday.
James had six birdies in her final-round 68, capping off a career-best tournament. She had four birdies in a five-hole span midway through her final round, finishing the event at even-par, which also represents a 54-hole career-best. James and Pedigo finished three strokes behind individual medalist Federica Torre of Old Dominion at -3.
Pedigo took 71 strokes to get around the par 72 / 6,302-yard layout Tuesday, joining James in the tie at even par. It was her fourth top-10 in her last six collegiate tournaments, as she led the field by playing the par-4s at -2 for the week.
Serena Shah had a team-high 12 birdies in the 54-hole event, and closed with a 74 to tie for 14th at +5. Shah had four birdies in the final round to post her fourth top-20 in five events, dating back to last season.
Chow notched her first career top-20 finish, posting a red number for the first time in her collegiate career with a 1-under 71. Chow had only one bogey on the day, on her third hole, then played -2 over the last 15 holes to finish the event at +6 at the tie for 20th.
Megan Chou tied for 44th at +16, but finished with her best round of the event, a 3-over 75. Chou birdied two of the five par-5s at University Ridge in the final round.
This is the 11th time SMU has opened the season with a tournament victory, and Lauren Mason joins Jeanne Sutherland and Kyle O'Brien Stevens as SMU women's golf head coaches to win their first event.
The Mustangs return to action September 25-27 for the Schooner Fall Classic at Belmar GC in Norman, Okla.
Women's Golf Wins Badger Invitational
VERONA, Wisconsin- SMU's women's golf team erased a 12-stroke deficit to win the Badger Invitational Tuesday. Head coach Lauren Mason becomes the third SMU head coach to win her debut tournament, and earns the program's first win since March 2019.
The Mustangs entered the day in fifth place, but surged up the leaderboard as the only squad in the 12-team field to break par at University Ridge Golf Course in the third round. The Mustangs finished the tournament at +11, two strokes ahead of second-place Notre Dame. SMU's final-round -4 is the best round since February 2020.
"We could not have asked for a better way to start the season," Mason said. "I am so proud of this team for trusting the process and digging deep today. This win is only the beginning for this team."
Four SMU players finished in the top-20 of the 71-player field, led by Katie James and Kennedy Pedigo, who tied for third. James, Pedigo, and Ashley Chow all had their collegiate best finishes, with James and Chow both turning in the best scorecard of their collegiate careers Tuesday.
James had six birdies in her final-round 68, capping off a career-best tournament. She had four birdies in a five-hole span midway through her final round, finishing the event at even-par, which also represents a 54-hole career-best. James and Pedigo finished three strokes behind individual medalist Federica Torre of Old Dominion at -3.
Pedigo took 71 strokes to get around the par 72 / 6,302-yard layout Tuesday, joining James in the tie at even par. It was her fourth top-10 in her last six collegiate tournaments, as she led the field by playing the par-4s at -2 for the week.
Serena Shah had a team-high 12 birdies in the 54-hole event, and closed with a 74 to tie for 14th at +5. Shah had four birdies in the final round to post her fourth top-20 in five events, dating back to last season.
Chow notched her first career top-20 finish, posting a red number for the first time in her collegiate career with a 1-under 71. Chow had only one bogey on the day, on her third hole, then played -2 over the last 15 holes to finish the event at +6 at the tie for 20th.
Megan Chou tied for 44th at +16, but finished with her best round of the event, a 3-over 75. Chou birdied two of the five par-5s at University Ridge in the final round.
This is the 11th time SMU has opened the season with a tournament victory, and Lauren Mason joins Jeanne Sutherland and Kyle O'Brien Stevens as SMU women's golf head coaches to win their first event.
The Mustangs return to action September 25-27 for the Schooner Fall Classic at Belmar GC in Norman, Okla.