Women’s Golf 2022-23 Season In Review
6/12/2023 12:50:00 PM | Women's Golf
The Youngstown State women's golf team tied the single-season school record with five tournament victories during a memorable 2022-23 season.
The Penguins competed in 12 events across seven different states from early September to late April. Highlights and key accomplishments from the team's 2022-23 season are detailed below.
Penguins Match School Record with Five Tournament Wins
- Youngstown State matched the single-season school record with five tournament victories during the 2022-23 season. The Penguins also won five events in 1997-98, 1999-00 and 2020-21.
- Youngstown State began the fall portion of its 2022-23 schedule with back-to-back tournament titles. The Penguins began the fall slate with a 28-stroke victory at the YSU Kickoff at Mill Creek Golf Course on Sept. 3. YSU fired a single-round team score of 290 to finish 28 strokes in front of runner-up Northern Kentucky. YSU's 290 (+2) ranks as the fifth-lowest team round in relation to par in program history. Six of the top seven players on the individual leaderboard were Penguins.
- YSU followed its season-opening win with a 24-stroke victory at the Roseann Schwartz Invitational at Mill Creek Golf Course on Sept. 13. The Penguins finished with a two-round team total of 585 to finish 24 strokes ahead of the runner-up Bellarmine. YSU's two-round 585 is tied for the fourth-lowest 36-hole performance in program history. The Guins fired a single-round team score of 291 in the second and final round to pull away for their second victory in as many tournaments. YSU's second-round 291 is tied for the sixth-lowest 18-hole performance in school history.
- YSU's third win of the campaign was a 5-1 match play victory over The Citadel on Feb. 4 at Patriots Point Links in Mount Pleasant, S.C. Puthita Khuanrudee, Titita Loudtragulngam, Danae Rugola, Madie Smithco and Lizzie Saur each won individual matches to power the Penguins to victory. The team's fourth win of the season was a two-stroke dual victory over Winthrop on March 8 at Rock Hill Country Club in Rock Hill, S.C.
- YSU's fifth and final team win was a 16-stroke victory at the YSU Spring Invitational on April 7 at Youngstown Country Club. The Penguins posted a single-round score of 307 to finish 16 strokes in front of runner-up Cleveland State. Each of the top five individual finishers and six out of the top seven were Penguins.
Three Additional Top-Four Finishes
- In addition to its five tournament victories, Youngstown State also earned three additional top-four finishes during the 2022-23 season.
- The Penguins finished an impressive fourth out of 16 teams at Penn State's Nittany Lion Invitational on Sept. 18 before placing second out of 15 teams at the Butler Fall Invitational on Oct. 4.
- Against an impressive field of teams at Penn State, the Penguins finished with a three-round team total of 890, which ranks as the second-lowest 54-hole performance in program history. At the Butler Fall Invitational, YSU finished with a three-round team total of 916, which ranks as the ninth-lowest 54-hole performance in program history.
- Youngstown State also earned a third-place finish at NKU's The Julie on March 28. The Penguins posted a two-round team total of 599, which is tied for the seventh-lowest 36-hole performance in program history.
Khuanrudee Concludes Historic Career
- Fifth-year senior Puthita Khuanrudee concluded her historic YSU career in 2022-23. The Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand, native was named First-Team All-Horizon League for the third straight season and for the fourth time in her career. She became just the second player in program history to earn all-league honors four times. Khuanrudee joins Katie Rogner, who earned all-league accolades in four straight seasons from 2008-11. Khuanrudee was also named the Horizon League Freshman of the Year in 2018-19.
- Khuanrudee competed in 10 tournaments and 20 rounds this past season with a team-best 75.3 strokes-per-round average and a career-low round of 69. Khuanrudee's 75.3 strokes-per-round average is tied for the fourth-lowest single-season mark in program history. She concludes her career owning four of the seven lowest single-season scoring averages in YSU history. Khuanrudee also set a new school record with a 75.5 career scoring average, surpassing her former teammate Katlyn Shutt's previous mark of 75.8.
- Khuanrudee also earned a pair of individual tournament titles during the 2022-23 season. She started the season by earning medalist honors at the YSU Kickoff with a three-under-par 69. Khuanrudee's 69 is tied for the ninth-lowest round in school history. She became just the fifth golfer in YSU history record a sub-70 round.
- At the Roseann Schwartz Invitational, Khuanrudee finished the tournament at one under par with a career-best two-round score of 141 (72-69) to earn medalist honors for the second straight event. The fifth-year senior's two-round 141 ranks as the third-lowest 36-hole score in program history.
- Khuanrudee finished tied for 11th at the Nittany Lion Invitational with a three-round score of 220 (76-71-73). The performance ranks as the eighth-lowest 54-hole score in program history. She also finished tied for 14th at the Butler Fall Invitational with a three-round 231 (78-75-78).
- During the spring portion of the season, Khuanrudee tied for 23rd at the Columbia Classic with a two-round score of 149 (76-73). She also tied for fourth at the YSU Spring Invitational with a single-round 78.
- Khuanrudee placed second at the 2023 Horizon League Championships with a three-round 223 (75-74-74) to earn a spot on the Horizon League All-Tournament Team for the third consecutive season. She became just the fifth player in program history to be a three-time all-tournament team selection.
- Khuanrudee finished her career with a school-record 189 birdies, surpassing the previous mark of 156 that was set by Shutt from 2017-21. She also matched Shutt's program record with six career eagles, and she tied Shutt's single-season school record with three eagles in 2022-23.
- Khuanrudee concluded her career ranking second in program history with 11 rounds of par or better and fifth with 91 career rounds played. She ranks tied for seventh in program history with five career wins, and she is one of eight players in school history to win at least five career events.
Rugola Earns All-League Honors for Second Straight Season
- Senior Danae Rugola was named Second-Team All-Horizon League for the second consecutive season in 2022-23. The Uniontown, Pa., native competed in all 12 tournaments 24 rounds this past season with a 77.0 strokes-per-round average and a low round of 71. Rugola earned five top-five finishes and seven top-10 finishes during the 2022-23 season.
- Rugola began the campaign by finishing tied for fifth at the YSU Kickoff with a single-round 78. She tied for sixth at the Roseann Schwartz Invitational with a two-round score of 149 (75-74).
- Rugola tied for fourth at the Nittany Lion Invitational with a career-best three-round 217 (71-71-75). The senior's 217 is tied for the third-lowest 54-hole score in program history.
- Rugola tied for second at the Butler Fall Invitational with a three-round 223 (75-75-73). She also tied for fifth at NKU's The Julie with a two-round total of 146 (71-75).
- Rugola currently ranks third in program history with 10 career rounds of par or better and fourth with 149 career birdies. She also ranks 10th in program history with 86 career rounds played. In addition, Rugola's career scoring average of 77.0 currently ranks as the third-lowest mark in program history.
- Rugola was named to the Horizon League All-Academic Team for the second straight season in 2022-23 to become the 11th player in program history to earn all-academic honors multiple times. She became the first Penguin since Megan Creager (2018-19) to become a two-time member of the league's all-academic team. Rugola was also selected to the 2022-23 College Sports Communications (CSC) Academic All-District Team for her combined performance on the course and in the classroom.
Loudtragulngam Named Second-Team All-Horizon League
- Titita Loudtragulngam enjoyed an impressive debut season at YSU after transferring from Tulsa. The junior was named Second-Team All-Horizon League after competing in all 12 tournaments and 24 rounds with a 77.0 strokes-per-round average and a career-low round of 71. The Chonburi, Thailand, native earned five top-10 finishes and one individual tournament victory during the 2022-23 season.
- Loudtragulngam earned medalist honors for the first time in her career with a single-round 75 at the YSU Spring Invitational. For her efforts, she was named Horizon League Golfer of the Week on April 13.
- In her YSU debut, Loudtragulngam placed second at the YSU Kickoff with a single-round 73. She followed that by placing fifth at the Roseann Schwartz Invitational with a two-round 146 (74-72).
- Loudtragulngam tied for fifth at the Butler Fall Invitational with a three-round 226 (74-75-77). She concluded the fall by finishing tied for 18th at the Lady Blue Hen Invitational with a three-round 227 (77-78-72).
- Loudtragulngam tied for 22nd at NKU's The Julie with a two-round score of 154 (83-71). She also tied for 17th at the Horizon League Championships with a three-round 237 (80-82-75).
- Loudtragulngam's 44 birdies in 2022-23 are tied for the eighth most in a single season in program history.
Smithco Earns First Individual Tournament Title
- Madie Smithco competed in all 12 tournaments and 24 rounds this past season while averaging a career-best 77.1 strokes per round. The Cranberry Township, Pa., native earned four top-10 finishes while firing a career-low round of 71 on two occasions.
- Smithco earned medalist honors for the first time in her career at NKU's The Julie with a two-round score of 142 (71-71) on March 28. For her performance, the junior was named Horizon League Golfer of the Week on March 30. Smithco's two-round 142 is tied for the fourth-lowest 36-hole score in program history.
- Smithco tied for third at the YSU Kickoff with a single-round 74, and she tied for 11th at the Roseann Schwartz Invitational with a two-round 153 (79-74).
- Smithco tied for second with a single-round 80 in a dual match vs. Winthrop, and she tied for second at the YSU Spring Invitational with a single-round 77. The junior placed 18th at the Navy Spring Invitational with a two-round total of 154 (75-79), and she finished 16th at the Horizon League Championships with a three-round 236 (81-77-78).
- Smithco's 78.4 career scoring average currently ranks as the seventh-lowest mark in program history. She also currently ranks tied for sixth in program history with four career rounds of par or better.
Solid Sophomore Season for Saur
- Lizzie Saur put together a solid sophomore season for the Penguins in 2022-23 after competing in every tournament as a freshman in 2021-22.
- The sophomore competed in all 12 tournaments this past season while averaging 79.3 strokes per round. The Grove City, Ohio, native earned four top-10 finishes while carding a career-low round of 69. Saur has competed in each of the 24 tournaments YSU has played since she joined the program prior to the 2021-22 campaign.
- Saur tied for fifth at the YSU Kickoff with a single-round 78, and she placed fourth at the Roseann Schwartz Invitational with a two-round 145 (69-76). The sophomore's 69 is tied for the ninth-lowest 18-hole score in program history. Saur became just the sixth golfer in YSU history to record a sub-70 round.
- Saur placed fourth in a dual match vs. Winthrop with a single-round 81, and she tied for ninth at the YSU Spring Invitational with a single-round 81. She also tied for 19th at the Navy Spring Invitational with a two-round score of 155 (78-77).
- Saur's 78.7 career scoring average currently ranks as the eighth-lowest mark in program history.
Lewis Finishes Accomplished Career
- Senior Christina Lewis finished her accomplished YSU career in 2022-23. The Wexford, Pa., native competed in 33 tournaments and 69 rounds during her four seasons as a Penguin. She was in the lineup when the Penguins claimed the Horizon League title in 2020-21.
- Lewis competed in seven tournaments and 10 rounds this past season with an 81.0 strokes-per-round average and a low round of 74. Her best performance of the season came when she finished tied for third at the YSU Kickoff with a single-round 74.
- Lewis' 79.4 career scoring average is tied for the 10th-lowest mark in program history. She also finished her career ranking ninth in program history with 93 career birdies.
Freshmen Make Immediate Impact
- Freshmen Chaela Barnett and Adena Rugola each made an immediate impact for the Penguins in 2022-23. Barnett competed in six tournaments and 10 rounds while Rugola participated in seven tournaments and 10 rounds.
- Barnett averaged 80.9 strokes per round with a low round of 73 while Rugola averaged 81.9 strokes per round with a low round of 74.
- Barnett tied for 13th in her YSU debut at the YSU Kickoff with a single-round 82. She also placed eighth at the Roseann Schwartz Invitational with a two-round total of 150 (77-73).
- In her YSU debut, Rugola tied for eighth at the YSU Kickoff with a single-round 79. She tied for 11th at the Roseann Schwartz Invitational with a two-round score of 153 (74-79). Rugola also tied for fourth at the YSU Spring Invitational with a single-round 78.
Odds & Ends
- The depth of YSU's roster was on full display in 2022-23 as eight of the nine players on the team competed in at least six events. Sophomore Kelly Hutton missed the entire season due to injury.
- YSU's 305.74 single-round team scoring average in 2022-23 ranks as the second-lowest single-season mark in program history.
- The Penguins recorded 180 birdies as a team in 2022-23, a mark that ranks as the fourth most in a single season in program history.
- Youngstown State also carded three eagles as a team in 2022-23, a mark that is tied for the fifth most in a season in school history.
For news and updates throughout the summer, follow @YSUWomensGolf on Twitter.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
Wednesday, August 12
Wednesday, August 12
Wednesday, August 12
Sunday, April 26
