Youngstown State University
Columbia Classic
Women’s Golf Begins Spring Season Saturday at Columbia Classic
2/8/2024 10:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
The Youngstown State women's golf team will open the spring portion of its 2023-24 season on Saturday when it begins play in the three-day Columbia Classic presented by MoonGolf at Duran Golf Club in Melbourne, Fla.
The Guins will return to competition for the first time since winning Central Michigan's Chippewa Invitational on Oct. 17. The spring season opener will begin a spring slate of six events for the Penguins from mid-February to late April. The spring season will culminate with the 2024 Horizon League Golf Championships on April 20-22 at Mission Inn Resort in Howey-In-The-Hills, Fla.
YSU was victorious in four of its five tournaments during the fall portion of the campaign. The Penguins earned four event victories during the fall season for just the second time in program history and for the first time since the 2000-01 season. Youngstown State also finished tied for third at Penn State's Nittany Lion Invitational.
The Penguins had three different golfers win an individual tournament title this past fall. Danae Rugola earned medalist honors at the season opening YSU Kickoff, Madie Smithco finished first at the Nittany Lion Invitational and freshman Neeranuch Prajunpanich claimed the top individual placing at Niagara's Purple Eagles Invitational.
The tournament field at the Columbia Classic will feature 15 other schools including Albany, Cal State Fullerton, Columbia, Dartmouth, Eastern Kentucky, Emory University, James Madison, Kennesaw State, Old Dominion, Penn State, Princeton, Richmond, Seton Hall, St. John's and Yale.
The teams will play 18 holes on Saturday, Sunday and Monday in the three-day, 54-hole event. Tee times off No. 1 and No. 10 for the first two rounds will begin at 8 a.m. while the third and final round on Monday will commence with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. The course will play approximately 6,303 yards and par is 72. Live scoring via Golf Genius will be available throughout the tournament through links on YSUsports.com.
Head Coach Nate Miklos has announced that YSU's lineup will feature Smithco, Prajunpanich, Lizzie Saur, Titita Loudtragulngam and Rugola.
Smithco, Prajunpanich, Saur and Loudtragulngam competed in all five events during the fall portion of the schedule. Rugola will return to competition for the first time since earning medalist honors at the season opening YSU Kickoff on Sept. 2. The fifth-year senior and two-time Second-Team All-Horizon League selection missed the final four tournaments of the fall slate due to injury.
For the latest news and updates throughout the spring season, follow @YSUWomensGolf on X and Instagram.
