BOARDMAN, Ohio -- The Indiana State women's golf team opened the 2017-18 season with an impressive showing at the Roseanne Schwartz Invitational, hosted by Youngstown State. The Sycamores placed three individuals in the Top 10 and are within seven shots of the lead heading into Tuesday's final round.
Indiana State carded a round of 317 and are in fourth place, trailing the leader Marshall who fired a round of 310. Also in front of the Sycamores are Cleveland State (313) and Akron (315). The Sycamores are ahead of fifth place Dayton by seven shots (324) and also lead host Youngstown State by 11 (328). MVC rival Evansville is in eighth place after posting an opening round of 336.
The Sycamores not only had to deal with a late lineup adjustment due to the illness of senior
Dawn Turner, who qualified as the low medalist in preseason qualifying but also had to deal with a different scorecard and longer yardages at the Mill Creek Golf Course as they look to defend their team championship in the event from one year ago. This year the course is playing at par-72, 6,089 yards.
"We are just a few back," head coach
Greg Towne commented. "We will catch them tomorrow. Donald Ross was a clever architect and we got caught a couple of times in the wrong spots. We adjust fast and were in worse shape last year when we came from behind to win on the final day."
Thilda Staubo led the way for the Sycamores with a score of 76 which is tied for third place and is just four shots behind leader Madison Butler of Cleveland State. Sophomore
Sierra Hargens, who finished second in this event during her collegiate debut last season fired a round of 78 and is tied for eighth with junior
Robyn Blanchard who also fired a 78.
Alex Jennings carded a round of 85 which is tied for 37th place while Sophie Benneti posted an 86 which is tied for 43rd. Playing as an individual,
Kayla Ryan recorded a round of 83 which is tied for 29th place.
The Sycamores will look to overcome the seven shot Marshall advantage and win the event for the second consecutive year on Tuesday in the final round of the Roseanne Schwartz Invitational. The event begins at 8 a.m. with tee times that run through 9:30 a.m.
