Seton Hall University
Third Round
Women's Golf Wins the Bucknell Invitational
9/7/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
LEWISBURG, PA. - The Seton Hall women's golf team shot a team-record low 293 in the final round of the Bucknell Invitational to win the tournament by six strokes over second place Rutgers on Sunday.
The tournament victory is the fifth in the short history of the program, but the first in five tries at the Bucknell Invitational. The Pirates had come close in recent years, finishing third in 2011 and tying for second in both 2012 and 2013.
Seton Hall all-time record low team score for a single round is 290, shot in the second round of last year's Yale Invitational. That was on a par-71 course. Today's 293 is the team record on a par-70 course.
"I am very proud of our performance today," said head coach Sara Doell. "I truly think this is a precursor for things to come this season. This is a special team with student-athletes capable of special performances. We've come close here before and it's really nice to finally win it"
Leading the charge on Sunday was junior Karlie Zabrosky (Erie, Pa.), who shot a personal best 1-over-par, 71, in the final round. Zabrosky finished in a tie for fourth place, with a 15-over-par, 76-78-71-225. It's the second, top-5 finish of her career.
"I'm really happy for Karlie," Doell said. "She was spectacular today. When she plays at this level, as a team, we're going to be very difficult to beat."
In all, four Pirates placed in the top-10 among 80 individual golfers in a dominant performance.
The top Seton Hall golfer for the weekend was Erin McClure (Tucson, Ariz.), who finished just two strokes off the individual lead and settled for second place overall. The senior entered Sunday's final round trailing the leaders by three strokes. She was able to make up one, but finished at 12-over-par with a 77-72-73-222. It is the seventh top-5 finish in what is beginning to look like a historic career for McClure.
"Erin was Erin," Doell said. "Coming off a tremendous junior year, this type of performance doesn't surprise me. We all know what Erin is capable of."
One of the "feel-good" performances of the weekend came from redshirt senior McKenzie Cutter (Waldorf, Md.). After missing pieces of her sophomore and junior seasons to a back injury, she qualified for the first tournament of the year and finished in a tie for eighth place. Cutter fired a 19-over-par, 78-75-76-229.
The fourth Pirate to place in the top-10 is arguably the most decorated in Seton Hall history. Senior Ali Kruse (Overland Park, Kan.) rebounded well after a disappointing 81 in round one to shoot a 73 in round three. She finished at 20-over-par with an 81-76-73-230. Her 10th place finish is her program record 14th of her career.
Rounding out the Pirates' scoring was freshman Cassie Pantelas (Canton, Ohio), who showed real promise in her first collegiate tournament. The newcomer led the team with a first round 74, but showed her inexperience in round two with an 85. In round three, she bounced back to fire a respectable 78. She finished with a 27-over-par, 74-85-78-237, to tie for 20th place.
Fellow freshman Macky Fouse (Aliquippa, Pa.) saved her best round for round three. Playing as an individual, she shaved five shots off her first two rounds to finish at 31-over-par with an 82-82-77-241.
"I'm really pleased with the progress our two freshmen showed in our first tournament," Doell said. Their talent is what makes this year's team so special. All seven members of our roster can vie for and win a tournament. Our depth makes everyone better. Cassie and Macky will be a huge part of our team's success."
Junior Megan Tenhundfeld (Loveland, Ohio) also competed as an individual. The All-BIG EAST performer finished 27-over-par with a 78-80-79-237, to tie for 20th place overall.
The three-round event took place at the par-70 Bucknell Golf Club with two rounds commencing on Saturday and a final round on Sunday. Including Seton Hall and host Bucknell, 14 teams are vied for the title at the season-opening tournament including Cleveland State, Columbia, Lehigh, Kutztown, McDaniel, Niagara, Radford, Rutgers, Siena, St. Francis (N.Y.), William & Mary and Youngstown State.
Seton Hall will return to the links next Sunday with the first of three rounds at the William & Mary Invitational in Williamsburg, Va.
