Senior Madie Smithco earned medalist honors to lead the Youngstown State women's golf team to a third-place finish in the Nittany Lion Invitational on Sunday at the Penn State Blue Course in University Park, Pa.
Smithco finished the event at six under par to collect the second individual tournament title of her career by two strokes. The senior's three-round score of 210 (67-71-72) ranks as the second-lowest 54-hole performance in program history. Smithco's career-low, five-under-par 67 in the opening session is tied for the second-lowest 18-hole score in school history. She becomes just the third player in YSU history to record a round of 67 or below.
Smithco's opening-round 67 featured 13 pars and five birdies as she fired a three-under-par 33 on the back nine. The Cranberry Township, Pa., native tied for the tournament lead with 12 total birdies over three rounds of action. Smithco's second-round 71 included 11 pars and four birdies while her final-round 72 featured 10 pars, three birdies and an eagle on the par-five No. 18.
As a team, the Penguins finished with a three-round team total of 888, which ranks as the second-lowest 54-hole performance in program history. Youngstown State posted team scores of 289 and 300 in the first rounds, respectively, on Saturday before closing the event with a 299 in third and final session on Sunday. YSU's first-round 289 ranks as the seventh-lowest 18-hole performance in school history.
Lizzie Saur finished tied for ninth with a three-round total of 222 (73-71-78). The junior's one-under-par 71 in the second round featured 13 pars and three birdies as she carded a one-under-par 35 on the front nine. In her second collegiate event, Neeranuch Prajunpanich placed 25th with a three-round 227 (71-79-77). The freshman's career-low 71 in the first round included 13 pars and three birdies as she notched a one-under-par 35 on the front nine.
Chaela Barnett placed 37th with a three-round score of 232 (79-81-72). The sophomore's career-low, even-par 72 in the final round featured 10 pars and five birdies as she recorded a three-under-par 33 on the back nine. Titita Loudtragulngam tied for 42nd with a three-round 236 (78-79-79) while Adena Rugola tied for 48th with a 240 (79-78-83) while playing as an individual.
Boston College claimed the tournament title at 13 over par with a three-round team total of 877. James Madison finished as the runner-up with an 882 while High Point and YSU each posted an 888 to tie for third. Richmond rounded out the top five with an 895. Richmond's Hannah Lydic placed second behind Smithco on the individual leaderboard with a three-round score of 212 (73-69-70).
Youngstown State will continue its fall schedule on Sept. 23-24 when it plays host to the ninth annual Roseann Schwartz Invitational at Mill Creek Golf Course in Boardman, Ohio.
For news and updates throughout the fall season, follow @YSUWomensGolf on X and Instagram.
