KEENE, N.H. – Sophomore
Madison Mousley shot a team-best 87, just one stroke behind second place individually, as the Keene State College women's golf team hosted their own invitational at the Keene Country Club on Sunday.
The Owls featured two team entries at the meet for the first time, with the "A" group placing third with a 388 and the "B" group sixth with a 457 at the event. Suffolk University took home the team title with a 341, outdistancing second place Nichols College (362) and placing all five golfers in the top nine including individual medalist Krisna Mahendran (+6). The Owls finished 27 strokes better than fourth-place University of Southern Maine.
Mousley entered the back nine holes ahead of the eventual winner Mahendran, shooting a 42, but Mahendran pulled away from the field (including her second place teammate Ella Torsleff) with an impressive 35 (minus-1) on No. 10 through No. 18, shooting seven pars and one birdie (No. 11). Mousley had eight pars on the day, with it ultimately only being a few holes that lowered her score. She entered No. 18 in second place, but fell back two strokes after she recorded a six while Torsleff parred. Isabella Fleury (Nichols), Kaitlin Baca (Nichols), and Brooke Bugajewski (Suffolk) – who had a hole-in-one and an 83 in her last visit to the Keene Country Club – all joined Mousley in a four-way tie for third individually.
Keene State's first group was rounded out by a 96 from
Abby Weiterman (T-10th), a 97 from
Mackenzie Hagearty (T-12th) a 108 from
Jodi Mercier (20th) and a 116 from
Jasmine Shtufaj (27th).
Hagearty birdied No. 15 and
Kristin Litzenberg shot a two on the par-3 third hole. The Owls finished 50 strokes better collectively as a team on their home course than they did a season ago (438 to 388) and improved on their season-opening score at the USM Husky Classic by five shots.
"The women did great. We definitely know things we need to get a little better at that can really help the scores," said KSC head coach Jeff Timmer. "But they hit so many good shots, it was a good day."
The Owls travel to Clifton Park, N.Y. and the Van Patten Golf Club for the Northeast Women's Golf Classic Fall Invitational on Friday, October 11 before venturing to Rexford for another tournament the following day.
KSC's men host the Little East Conference championship this Tuesday through Thursday (October 1-3) at the Keene Country Club for the first time, with final rounds being held Wednesday and Thursday after practice rounds Tuesday.
