Youngstown State University
Nittany Lion Invitational hosted by Penn State
Women’s Golf Seeks Another Strong Performance This Weekend at Nittany Lion Invitational
9/14/2023 9:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
The Youngstown State women's golf team will continue its fall schedule on Saturday when it begins play in Penn State's Nittany Lion Invitational at the Penn State Blue Course in University Park, Pa.
The Penguins are coming off a dominant victory in their season opening YSU Kickoff at Mill Creek Golf Course on Sept. 2. Youngstown State fired a single-round team score of 287 to finish the event at one under par. YSU's 287 is tied for the third-lowest 18-hole performance in program history. The performance marks just the fourth time in school history that the Penguins have shot below par as a team. YSU cruised to victory as it finished 26 strokes ahead of runner-up Northern Kentucky, which posted a single-round team score of 313.
Seven of the eight Penguins who competed finished in the top 11 of the individual standings. Fifth-year senior Danae Rugola earned medalist honors for the third time in her career by matching her career-low round with a four-under-par 68. The performance is tied for the fifth-lowest 18-hole score in school history.
The Penguins will be looking for another strong performance at the Nittany Lion Invitational after finishing fourth as a team last fall. YSU finished last season's event with a three-round team total of 890, which ranks as the second-lowest 54-hole performance in program history. Penn State has won its annual home tournament each of the last two seasons.
The tournament field at the Nittany Lion Invitational will feature nine other schools including Akron, Boston College, Central Michigan, Eastern Kentucky, High Point, James Madison, Penn State, Richmond and Navy.
The teams will play 36 holes on Saturday and 18 holes on Sunday in the two-day, 54-hole event. Saturday's first round will begin with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. while Sunday's final round will commence with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. The course will play approximately 6,402 yards and par is 72. Live scoring will be available at Golfstat.com.
Head Coach Nate Miklos has announced that YSU's lineup will feature Neeranuch Prajunpanich, Madie Smithco, Lizzie Saur, Chaela Barnett and Titita Loudtragulngam. In addition, Adena Rugola will be competing as an individual.
Smithco placed second at the season-opening YSU Kickoff with an even-par round of 72 while Prajunpanich tied for third with a one-over-par 73 in her collegiate debut. Rugola matched the lowest round of her career with a two-over-par 74 to finish fifth in the season opener. Barnett placed sixth with a round of 77 while Loudtragulngam and Saur each carded a 78 to tie for seventh.
For news and updates throughout the fall season, follow @YSUWomensGolf on X and Instagram.
