Youngstown State University
Horizon League Championships
Women's Golf Looks to Defend Title at Horizon League Championships
4/22/2022 4:22:00 PM | Women's Golf
The Youngstown State women's golf team will be seeking to defend its title when the Horizon League Championships begin on Sunday at Mission Inn Resort in Howey-In-The-Hills, Fla.
The event will take place at Mission Inn Resort's Las Colinas course as the teams will play 18 holes on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday to determine the conference champion. The course will play approximately 6,051 yards and par is 72. Live scoring will be available at Golfstat.com.
YSU earned its fourth league crown at the 2021 Horizon League Championships with a league-record three-round team total of 893. The Penguins shattered the previous league 54-hole scoring record by an impressive 27 strokes. After posting scores of 296 and 302 in the first two rounds, the Penguins fired a final-round 295 to pull away for a 15-stroke victory over runner-up IUPUI. The Penguins and Jaguars were tied for the lead heading into the final round of play.
The women's field will feature eight other teams including Cleveland State, Detroit Mercy, Green Bay, IUPUI, Northern Kentucky, Oakland, Purdue Fort Wayne and UIC.
The Penguins, who are the top seed as the defending champion, will tee off beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday. Head Coach Nate Miklos has announced that YSU's lineup will feature Puthita Khuanrudee, Danae Rugola, Christina Lewis, Lizzie Saur and Madie Smithco. In addition, Tori Utrup will be available as a possible substitute.
YSU's Sunday Tee Times:
- Smithco – 9:30 a.m.
- Saur – 9:42 a.m.
- Lewis – 9:54 a.m.
- Rugola – 10:06 a.m.
- Khuanrudee – 10:18 a.m.
Khuanrudee will be the most experienced Penguin at the event as she will be competing at the Horizon League Championships for the third time in her career. The senior placed 11th at the league meet as a freshman in 2019 with a three-round score of 239 (78-79-82). Khuanrudee finished third at the league championships last season with a three-round 221 (75-74-72) to earn a spot on the Horizon League All-Tournament Team.
Khuanrudee has competed in five tournaments and 11 rounds this season. She ranks second on the team with a 76.8 strokes-per-round average. The senior has earned a pair of top-10 finishes and fired a low round of 73 on two occasions. Khuanrudee finished second at the Nevel Meade Collegiate with a three-round 224 (78-73-73). She also tied for third at the YSU Spring Invitational with a single-round 79. Khuanrudee was named Horizon League Women's Golfer of the Week on March 24.
Rugola will be competing at the Horizon League Championships for the second time in her career. The junior tied for 24th at the league meet last season with a three-round total of 236 (78-78-80). The Uniontown, Pa., native has competed in all 11 tournaments so far this season. She is averaging a team and career-best 76.0 strokes per round with a low round of 68. Rugola has been YSU's top finisher in eight of 10 stroke-play events this season. She has earned three top-10 finishes and six top-15 finishes while placing in the top 25 in eight of 10 stroke-play events. Rugola tied for first place at the Roseann Schwartz Invitational with a two-round 146 (73-73). She also tied for first place at the YSU Spring Invitational with a single-round 78. Rugola tied for ninth at the Shirley Spork EMU Invitational with a three-round 225 (71-80-74). She was also named Horizon League Women's Golfer of the Week on March 17.
Lewis will also be competing at the Horizon League Championships for the second time in her career. The junior tied for 21st at the league meet last season with a three-round score of 234 (76-83-75). The Wexford, Pa., native has participated in nine events so far this season with a pair of top-10 finishes. She is averaging 79.4 strokes per round with a low round of 72. Lewis tied for fifth at the Roseann Schwartz Invitational with a two-round 148 (76-72). She also tied for third at the YSU Spring Invitational with a single-round score of 79.
Saur will be making her debut at the Horizon League Championships after a stellar true freshman season. The Grove City, Ohio, native has competed in all 11 of YSU's events so far this season. She is averaging 77.8 strokes per round with a low round of 73. Saur has finished in the top 30 in seven of 10 stroke-play events while earning four top-20 finishes and two in the top 15. Saur tied for sixth at the YSU Spring Invitational with a single-round 81. She also tied for 15th at the Roseann Schwartz Invitational with a two-round 153 (77-76).
Smithco will also be making her debut at the Horizon League Championships. The sophomore has competed in nine tournaments so far this season with a 79.1 strokes-per-round average and a low round of 71. The Cranberry Township, Pa., native has earned a pair of top-20 finishes on the campaign. Smithco placed 12th at the Roseann Schwartz Invitational with a two-round 151 (80-71), and she tied for 17th at the YSU Spring Invitational with a single-round 88.
Utrup has competed in eight events so far this season. She holds an 82.1 strokes-per-round average and a low round of 77. The senior's best finish of the season came when she tied for 12th at the YSU Spring Invitational with a single-round 85. The Uniontown, Ohio, native finished tied for 25th at the Horizon League Championships as a freshman in 2018 with a three-round score of 252 (84-85-83).
YSU won the first-ever league meet in 2003, won again in 2009 and claimed the 2015 championship. The 2015 win marked the first NCAA Regional appearance for the Guins after claiming the league crown. Most recently, the Penguins won their fourth league title at the 2021 championships, which were held at Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex in West Lafayette, Ind. YSU advanced to the NCAA Columbus Regional for the second regional appearance in program history.
The Penguins have finished second on six occasions and been third four times as well. The Guins have finished outside of the top three just four times. YSU's league champions have been Lori Hatcher (2003), Katie Rogner (2008), Samantha Formeck (2009), Allison Mitzel (2013), Emily Dixon (2015) and Katlyn Shutt (2017, 2021).
The NCAA Regionals are May 9-11 at six sites. Host schools for the regionals include New Mexico, Michigan, Oklahoma State, Florida State, Stanford and Vanderbilt.
