Photo by: Robert Hayes
Women’s Golf 2023-24 Season In Review
6/4/2024 11:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
The Youngstown State women's golf team competed in 11 events across six different states from early September to late April during its 2023-24 season.
Highlights and key accomplishments from the team's 2023-24 season are detailed below.
Four Tournaments Wins During Fall Season
- Youngstown State earned four tournament victories in 2023-24, all of which came during a stellar fall portion of the season. The Penguins claimed 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. YSU also finished tied for third at Penn State's Nittany Lion Invitational during the fall slate.
- The Penguins began the 2023-24 season with a dominating 26-stroke victory at the YSU Kickoff on Sept. 2. YSU fired a single-round team score of 287 to finish the event at one under par. The performance marked just the fourth time in school history and the first since 2019-20 that the Penguins have shot below par as a team.
- Youngstown State posted a final-round score of 291 to overcome a five-stroke deficit and claim its second victory of the season at the Roseann Schwartz Invitational on Sept. 24. The Penguins finished with a two-round team total of 599 after posting a 308 in the first round of play. The performance is tied for the seventh-lowest 36-hole team score in program history. YSU's second-round 291 is tied for the seventh-lowest 18-hole performance in school history.
- Paced by the top three finishers of the tournament, Youngstown State earned its third team crown of the fall at the Purple Eagles Invitational on Oct. 2. YSU's three-round team total of 913 is tied for the eighth-lowest 54-hole performance in program history. Siena finished second with a 949 as the Guins won the tournament by an impressive 36 shots.
- Youngstown State claimed its fourth victory of the fall season by winning Central Michigan's Chippewa Invitational on Oct. 17. The Penguins finished the two-day, 36-hole event with a two-round team total of 602 to finish four shots in front of the runner-up Oakland. YSU's two-round team total of 602 ranks as the 10th-lowest 36-hole performance in school history.
- Youngstown State's four tournament victories in 2023-24 are tied for the fifth most in a season in program history. This past season marked the eighth time in program history and the sixth time under Head Coach Nate Miklos that the Guins have won four or more events in a season.
Four Additional Top-Five Finishes
- In addition to its four tournament wins in 2023-24, YSU also earned four other top-five team finishes during the campaign. The Penguins finished tied for third at Penn State's Nittany Lion Invitational with a three-round team total of 888, which ranks as the second-lowest 54-hole performance in program history. YSU's first-round 289 at the Nittany Lion Invitational ranks as the sixth-lowest 18-hole performance in school history.
- The Penguins also finished fourth at the Howard Lady Bison Invitational, second at the YSU Spring Invitational and second at the Horizon League Championships. The 2023-24 season marked the seventh time in program history the Penguins have been the runner-up at the HL Championships, the most recent time prior coming in 2017.
- Youngstown State also recorded 230 birdies as a team in 2023-24, surpassing the previous school record of 215 in 2018-19.
Prajunpanich Named Horizon League Freshman of the Year
- Neeranuch Prajunpanich was named Horizon League Freshman of the Year and selected to the All-Horizon League First Team after a stellar debut collegiate campaign in 2023-24. The Samut Prakan, Thailand, native competed in all 11 tournaments and 26 rounds with a 75.8 strokes-per-round average and a low round of 70. Prajunpanich's 75.8 scoring average ranks as the ninth-lowest single-season mark in program history.
- Prajunpanich became the sixth Penguin to be named the Horizon League's Newcomer or Freshman of the Year, and the fourth since Miklos took over as head coach in 2013. She joined Katie Rogner (2008), Samantha Formeck (2009), Gabby Minor (2016), Reva Morris (2017) and Puthita Khuanrudee (2019).
- Prajunpanich recorded one tournament victory and seven top-10 finishes while coming in as YSU's top individual finisher on five occasions. The true freshman did not finish outside of the top 30 of the individual standings in 11 tournaments played. Prajunpanich's six rounds of par or better in 2023-24 are tied for the second most in a season in school history. She finished second at the Horizon League Championships with a three-round score of 231 (76-76-79) to earn a spot on the Horizon League All-Tournament Team.
- Prajunpanich finished tied for third in her collegiate debut at the YSU Kickoff with a one-over-par round of 73. She placed 25th at the Nittany Lion Invitational with a three-round total of 227 (71-79-77) before placing third at the Roseann Schwartz Invitational with a two-round 145 (73-72).
- Prajunpanich earned medalist honors for the first time at the Purple Eagles Invitational with a three-round score of 221 (80-70-71). The freshman's three-round 221 is tied for the 10th-lowest 54-hole score in program history. She also tied for seventh at the Chippewa Invitational with a two-round total of 151 (74-77).
- Prajunpanich tied for 25th at the Columbia Classic with a three-round score of 226 (72-76-78), and she tied for 18th at the Howard Lady Bison Invitational with a three-round 231 (79-74-78). Prajunpanich tied for fifth at NKU's The Julie with a two-round total of 150 (78-72), and she tied for third at the YSU Spring Invitational with a two-round score of 151 (75-76).
Smithco Named to All-Horizon League First Team
- Madie Smithco was named to the All-Horizon League First Team as a senior in 2023-24. The Cranberry Township, Pa., native averaged a school-record 73.7 strokes per round over seven tournaments and 16 rounds before missing the final four events of the season due to injury.
- Smithco earned six top-10 finishes including a first-place performance at Penn State's Nittany Lion Invitational. The senior fired a three-round score of 210 with a career-low round of 67 to claim her second-career tournament win. Smithco was also named Horizon League Women's Golfer of the Week on March 7.
- Smithco placed second at the season-opening YSU Kickoff with an even-par round of 72. The senior earned medalist honors at the Nittany Lion Invitational with a three-round score of 210 (67-71-72). Smithco's three-round 210 ranks as the second-lowest 54-hole score in program history. The senior's five-under-par 67 in the first round is tied for the second-lowest 18-hole score in school history.
- Smithco tied for sixth at the Roseann Schwartz Invitational with a two-round score of 150 (78-72), and she placed second at the Purple Eagles Invitational with a three-round 224 (73-77-74). The senior placed fourth at the Chippewa Invitational with a two-round 149 (72-77), and she finished fifth at the Howard Lady Bison Invitational with a three-round score of 222 (77-72-73).
- Smithco's six rounds of par or better in 2023-24 are tied for the second most in a season in program history. She also ranks fourth in school history with 10 career rounds of par or better. Smithco's career scoring average of 77.3 ranks as the third-lowest mark in program history. Smithco was also named to the Horizon League All-Academic Team for the second consecutive season in 2023-24.
Rugola Concludes Accomplished Career
- Danae Rugola concluded her accomplished five-year YSU career in 2023-24. The Uniontown, Pa., native became the first player in program history to play in 100 career rounds, surpassing the previous career record of 99 that had been held by Aislynn Merling and Allison Mitzel since 2015.
- Rugola competed in six tournaments and 14 rounds as a fifth-year senior in 2023-24. She averaged 79.6 strokes per round with a low round of 68 while missing five tournaments due to injury. She earned medalist honors at the season-opening YSU Kickoff with a four-under-par round of 68. Rugola's single-round 68 matched her career low round and is tied for the sixth-lowest 18-hole score in school history.
- Rugola placed 16th at the Nevel Meade Collegiate with a two-round score of 162 (84-78), and she tied for ninth at the YSU Spring Invitational with a two-round 156 (77-79). She finished tied for 16th at the Horizon League Championships with a three-round 246 (84-79-83) to conclude her collegiate career.
- Rugola finished her career ranking tied for the second in program history with 11 career rounds of par or better. She also concluded her career ranking second in school history with 167 career birdies. Rugola's career scoring average of 77.4 is tied for the fourth-lowest mark in program history.
Saur Named to All-Horizon League Second Team
- Junior Lizzie Saur was named to the All-Horizon League Second Team in 2023-24 to collect all-league recognition for the first time in her career. The Grove City, Ohio, native competed in all 11 tournaments and 26 rounds this past season while averaging a career-best 76.6 strokes per round. Saur earned eight top-10 finishes while carding a low round of 71. She was named Horizon League Women's Golfer of the Week on Feb. 15.
- Saur finished tied for seventh at the season-opening YSU Kickoff with a single-round 78 before finishing tied for ninth at the Nittany Lion Invitational with a three-round score of 222 (73-71-78). She finished tied for ninth at the Roseann Schwartz Invitational with a two-round total of 151 (79-72), and she placed third at the Purple Eagles Invitational with a three-round 229 (77-76-76).
- Saur finished tied for 14th at the Columbia Classic with a three-round score of 222 (74-73-75), and she tied for 10th at the Howard Lady Bison Invitational with a three-round total of 227 (74-75-78). The junior tied for seventh at NKU's The Julie with a two-round 151 (78-73), and she placed sixth at the YSU Spring Invitational with a two-round score of 153 (75-78). Saur concluded the season by finishing tied for eighth at the Horizon League Championships with a three-round 237 (79-77-81).
- Saur's career scoring average of 78.0 currently ranks as the seventh-lowest mark in school history.
Depth on Display
- The depth of Youngstown State's roster was on display once again in 2023-24 as all eight players competed in at least three tournaments. In addition, seven of YSU's eight players participated in at least six tournaments during the campaign.
- Titita Loudtragulngam competed in all 11 tournaments and 26 rounds with an 80.0 strokes-per-round average and a low round of 73. The senior finished tied for seventh at the Chippewa Invitational with a two-round score of 151 (73-78), and she placed seventh at the YSU Spring Invitational with a two-round total of 154 (75-79). Loudtragulngam's career scoring average of 78.6 ranks as the ninth-lowest mark in program history.
- Adena Rugola competed in 10 tournaments and 23 rounds with a career-best 81.0 strokes-per-round average and a low round of 74. The sophomore placed fifth at the YSU Kickoff with a single-round 74, and she tied for 11th at the Chippewa Invitational with a two-round 154 (77-77).
- Chaela Barnett competed in 10 tournaments and 23 rounds with a career-best 80.4 strokes-per-round average and a career-low round of 72. The sophomore placed sixth at the YSU Kickoff with a single-round 77, and she finished 12th at the Purple Eagles Invitational with a three-round 243 (79-83-81).
- Redshirt sophomore Kelly Hutton competed in three tournaments and three rounds with a career-best 92.3 strokes-per-round average and a low round of 89.
For the latest news and updates on the YSU women's golf program, follow @YSUWomensGolf on X and Instagram.
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Sunday, April 26
Saturday, April 18
Tuesday, April 14
Tuesday, April 14
