Seton Hall University
Second Round
WGolf Places Second at Lehigh
10/21/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
BETHLEHEM, PA. - Junior Hannah Basalone (Brea, Calif.) fired a 1-under-par, 71, in Sunday's second round to lift the Seton Hall women's golf team to a second place finish at the 2012 Lehigh University Invitational.
The Pirates completed a sparkling fall season, which in five tournaments, saw a team victory, three second place finishes by one stroke, and a fourth place tie.
This is the second straight year that Seton Hall has placed second at the Lehigh University Invitational. Today, they matched their best par-72 single-round in program history with an 11-over-par, 299. The Pirates entered the day four strokes behind Rutgers, but finished one stroke behind team champion Princeton. For the two-day event, Seton Hall fired a 28-over-par, 305-299-604.
Among the small field of eight teams were three other BIG EAST competitors. St. John's finished in third place, a distant nine strokes behind the Pirates. Rutgers placed fifth, two strokes behind the Red Storm, while Georgetown finished in sixth place, 16 strokes behind the Scarlet Knights.
Today's performance marked the emphatic return of Basalone to her usual elite status. One year ago, she claimed the first individual title in school history at the Lehigh Invitational, but this fall, despite respectable scores, Basalone has been hampered by injury and illness. Her 71 proves her health heading into the offseason.
For the tournament, Basalone placed fifth among 45 golfers with a 5-over-par, 78-71-149. It's the fifth top-5 finish of her stellar career. She finished just two strokes behind a trio of golfers that tied for the tournament's low score.
"After everything she has battled this season, it was great to see Hannah catch her stride again and lead us today," said Head Coach Sara Doell. "Today's 299 and second place finish is just another step in the tremendous progression this team has made in a very short period of time. It is a good effort to send us into the offseason. I can't wait to see what the spring holds for this team."
Christina Cantú (Houston, Texas) followed up her impressive first round 73 with a 5-over-par, 77 in round two. The junior placed sixth overall just one stroke behind Basalone with a 6-over-par, 73-77-150. This performance wraps up a very productive fall season for Cantú. She tallied four, top-10 finishes in five tournaments, including a pair of second place ties.
Sophomore Ali Kruse (Overland Park, Kan.) tied for seventh place with a consistent 8-over-par, 76-76-152. Kruse notched five top-10 finishes this fall.
Erin McClure (Tucson, Ariz.) was two strokes better on Sunday, firing a 4-over-par, 76, to finish the two-day event tied for 11th place with a 10-over-par, 78-76-154.
Freshman Megan Tenhundfeld (Loveland, Ohio) rounded out the Pirates scoring and shot eight strokes better in round two. She fired a 4-over-par, 76, on Sunday to finish the tournament at 16-over-par with an 84-76-160.
The Pirates will return to action this spring.
