MEN’S GOLF
The Saint Xavier University men’s golf team placed first on the first day of the two-day Mike Lalaeff Memorial Invite in Hammond, Ind.
Played at the par-72 Lost Marsh Golf Course, the Cougars beat out the rest of the 16-team field during day one. The Sunday portion of the event was scrapped due to inclement weather and was expected to be made up Tuesday as of press time.
The Cougars’ first-place finish was not even particularly close—Saint Xavier shot a team score of 304, which was 13 strokes better than the second-place team, Owens Community College.
Senior James Kerr led the Cougars Monday, shooting a three-over-par 75. This was good for the second best individual score on the day. Kerr, the only international Cougar golfer (from Donegal, Ireland), was bested only by Tyler Nicol of Calumet College, who shot an even-par 72.
Not to be too significantly outdone, senior Kirby Brown found his way onto the score sheet tied for third in individual scoring. He finished the day at 4 over with a 76. Tying Brown at the scoring table was fellow senior Brendan Ryan, who likewise tied for third in individual scoring. Junior Kyle Bahnick rounded out the Cougar scoring with a solid 77.
The consistency in scoring among the four qualifying golfers is encouraging, and the Cougars will no doubt look for more of the same when they compete in the Chicago State Invitational at Harborside Golf Course this coming Monday and Tuesday, September 23 and 24.
WOMEN’S GOLF
Though the Saint Xavier University women’s golf team does not have enough players to fill out a team score, their play at the Benedictine University Fall Invite this Saturday marked the first time SXU had representatives in a women’s collegiate golf event.
Unfortunately, the event would only last one day as day two, scheduled for Sunday, would be rained out.
On Saturday at St. Andrew’s Golf and Country Club in West Chicago, freshman Katie Reno placed three shots behind the individual best scorer with an impressive 79, seven strokes over at the par-72 course. Reno was just two strokes over par for her second nine holes, shooting a 38 to get herself into individual contention.
Freshman Taylor Thompson was also impressive. Her 83 was good for the sixth-best individual score in the field. Reno and Thompson’s fellow freshman, Courtney Dudgeon, shot a 92 to place No. 26 individually.
The women’s golf team also played the first day of the Chicago State Invitational at Harborside Golf Course on Monday. Results for day two, Tuesday, were not available at press time.
On day one, the Cougars were not as efficient in making their way around the course as they had been at the Benedictine Fall Invite.
Thompson posted the best score of the day with an eleven-over 83, good for a tie for No. 53 in individual scoring. Her round included a three-over 39 on her second nine holes.
Reno was No. 72 overall for the event, posting an 18-over 90. She could not duplicate her solid first-nine 44, instead playing the second nine in 46 strokes.
Dudgeon placed tied for last out of the 77 qualifying golfers in the field. Her 25-over 97 left room for improvement, but it is important to keep in mind that this was just the second event of these golfers’ young collegiate career.
The women’s golf team looks to gain experiencethis year. These Cougar golfers’ next event is the William Woods Fall Invitational at Tanglewood Golf Course in Fulton, Mo, to be played September 30 and October 1.
Tim Carroll
Senior Sports Editor