Youngstown State University
The Julie hosted by Northern Kentucky
Smithco Earns Medalist Honors to Lead Penguins to Third-Place Finish at NKU’s The Julie
3/28/2023 5:02:00 PM | Women's Golf
Junior Madie Smithco birdied the first playoff hole to earn medalist honors and lead the Youngstown State women's golf team to a third-place finish on Tuesday in The Julie hosted by Northern Kentucky at Elks Run Golf Club in Batavia, Ohio.
YSU finished third as a team with a two-round team total of 599. The Penguins posted a team score of 300 in the opening round on Monday before recording a 299 in the final session on Tuesday. YSU's 599 is tied for the seventh-lowest 36-hole performance in program history.
Smithco finished tied for first place individually with Cathi Graf (68-74) of Indianapolis and proceeded to birdie the first playoff hole to win medalist honors for the first time in her career. The Cranberry Township, Pa., native matched her career-low round with an even-par 71 in each round for a career-best two-round score of 142. The junior's two-round 142 is tied for the fourth-lowest 36-hole score in program history.
Smithco's first-round 71 featured 13 pars and three birdies as she made par or better on 14 of her final 15 holes. The junior's final-round 71 included 11 pars and four birdies as she fired a two-under-par 33 on the back nine.
Danae Rugola finished tied for fifth with a two-round 146 (71-75) to collect her sixth top-10 finish of the season and match the best 36-hole score of her career. The Uniontown, Pa., native matched her season-low round with an even-par 71 on Monday that featured 12 pars and three birdies. Rugola carded a two-under-par 33 on the back nine during the opening round. The senior's final-round 75 included 12 pars and a birdie on the par-five No. 5.
Titita Loudtragulngam finished tied for 22nd with a two-round total of 154 (83-71). The junior set a new career-low round with an even-par 71 in the final session on Tuesday to move up an impressive 32 spots on the individual leaderboard. Loudtragulngam's final-round 71 featured 13 pars and three birdies as she shot a one-under-par 35 on the front nine.
Playing as an individual, Christina Lewis finished tied for 37th with a two-round score of 159 (77-82). The senior's opening-round 77 included 10 pars and a pair of birdies as she shot a one-over-par 37 on the front nine.
Lizzie Saur also tied for 37th with a two-round 159 (77-82). The sophomore's first-round 77 featured 10 pars and a birdie on the par-three No. 8 as she posted a one-over-par 37 on the front nine.
Playing as an individual, Adena Rugola finished tied for 44th with a two-round total of 162 (81-81). Chaela Barnett finished tied for 46th with a two-round score of 163 (81-82).
Green Bay claimed the tournament title with a two-round team total of 592 (298-294) while Indianapolis finished as the runner-up with a 594. Northern Kentucky placed fourth with a 608 while Cleveland State rounded out the top five with a 616.
Youngstown State will continue its spring slate on April 7 when it plays host to the YSU Spring Invitational at Youngstown Country Club in Youngstown, Ohio.
For news and updates throughout the spring season, follow @YSUWomensGolf on Twitter and Instagram.
