NEWTON, Kan. -- Sophie Benetti enjoyed a career-best tournament including a second round of even par 72 en route to a second place individual finish at the MVC Preview held on October 16-17. The 54-hole event is being held at the Sand Creek Station Golf Course, which is a par-72, 6,103-yard layout.
Benetti opened with a round of 76 and came back with a 72 on Monday afternoon before posting another 76 on Tuesday in the third round. Her total of 224 is the best of her career for 54 holes and she tied for second place in the individual race. She finished six shots behind the winner Taryn Torgerson of host Wichita State and was tied with Illinois State's Kiley Walsh and Missouri State's Rachel Johnson for second place. Among players that will be competing at the MVC Championships in April, Benetti was tied for the lead.
Overall, Indiana State finished in a tie for 5th place after posting a final round of 317 which followed scores of 306 and 301 for a tournament total of 924. Northern Iowa won the event with sub-300 rounds and a final score of 907 which tied for first with the host Shockers of Wichita State. The margin was razor close as Southern Illinois and defending champion Missouri State each posted tallies of 921 just three shots ahead of the Sycamores and Bradley who tied for fifth. The Sycamores downed Loyola by seven shots as the Ramblers finished in 7th place with 931 and Illinois State was eighth with a score of 938. Drake finished 9th at 947, Valparaiso was 10th at 973 and Evansville rounded out the field at 1014.
"Sophie has a breakthrough tournament with her second place finish and was steady all 54 holes," head coach
Greg Towne said. "We are really looking forward to our trip back here in April. The team learned a lot about the course, the wind and what it takes to WIN a championship. Just the few shots that separate the top teams shouldn't be that difficult to make up if we put our minds to it."
Robyn Blanchard finished in a tie for 15th place as she followed up a pair of 74's on Monday with an 83 on Tuesday. Her total of 231 was her best since the MVC Championships during her freshman year in 2016 when she posted a score of 225.
Sierra Hargens was tied for 20th with steady rounds of 77, 78 and 78 for a total of 233. Hargens was coming off her first career tournament victory two weeks ago at Butler.
Thilda Staubo posted rounds of 79, 77 and 80 for a total of 236 which put her in a tie for 28th place.
Abigail Irwin was tied for 55th with rounds of 79, 83 and 86 for a total of 248.
Alex Jennings was the top individual for the Sycamores in a return to her hometown of Wichita as she posted rounds of 78, 80 and 82 to tie for 39th place with a score of 240.
Dawn Turner turned in rounds of 79, 83 and 81 to tie for 44th place with a total of 243.
One more fall tournament remains on the schedule for the Sycamores as they travel to the Charles Braun Intercollegiate on October 23 & 24 in Evansville.
