Pirate Moments Presented by BURG: Back-To-Back Titles
7/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
The 2014-15 year was another to remember in Seton Hall Athletics, as the Pirates continued to rise in their second year as a member of the revamped BIG EAST Conference.
Highlighted by three NCAA Regional berths (Volleyball, Women's Basketball, Women's Golf),there was no shortage of memorable moments across all 14 varsity athletic programs as Seton Hall student-athletes continued to honor and further the University's proud athletic tradition.
Over three weeks, SHUPirates.com in conjunction with BURG will reveal its countdown of the year that was.
BACK-TO-BACK TITLES
From the very start of the three-day event, the 2015 BIG EAST Championship was a dogfight between Seton Hall, Georgetown and Xavier. The trio was separated by just one stroke after the first 18 holes, with the Hoyas and Musketeers tied for the lead, one stroke ahead of The Hall. After two rounds, thanks largely to a career-best 2-under-par, 70, by Megan Tenhundfeld, the Pirates grabbed a share of the lead, tied with Xavier, just one stroke ahead of Georgetown.
Halfway through Saturday's final round, it looked as if the Pirates were going to cruise to their second straight title. The Pirates led the field by as many as 13 strokes at the turn and were collectively 2-under-par through nine holes. Ali Kruse punctuated what may have been the finest nine holes of golf the Pirates played all year with an eagle on the par-4, ninth hole. But when The Hall shot a collective 8-over-par through holes 10, 11 and 12, Georgetown made its move.
With the final three golfers approaching the 18th hole, Seton Hall had a one-stroke lead. With the pressure on, Tenhundfeld chipped her third shot to within three feet of the hole, and calmly made the par putt to match Georgetown's Jacqueline Eleey, who won the individual BIG EAST title, and preserve the slim margin of victory.
For the tournament, Seton Hall shot a 50-over-par, 311-299-304-914. Georgetown was 51-over-par and Xavier finished at 57-over-par. The Pirates finished 14 strokes better in 2015 than they did on the same course in 2014, LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla., but they won by only one stroke as opposed to seven strokes last year.
While most of the Pirates showed good and bad during the final round, only senior Erin McClure was consistently brilliant throughout the afternoon. Saving her career-best round for the conference's highest stage, she paced Seton Hall with a 2-under-par, 70, to finish the tournament second among all individuals. After not posting a single birdie through the tournament's first 36 holes, McClure recorded five in round three.
With the dramatic one-stroke victory, the women's golf team became the first Seton Hall program to win back-to-back BIG EAST conference titles since the softball team did so in 2004 & 2005.
