GREENBURGH, N.Y. – Playing through high winds with gusts up to 20-30 MPH on the hilly par-71 Saint Andrew's Golf Course, the Monmouth University women's golf team wrapped up play in the St. John's Invitational in 11th place. The Blue and White, which was paced by freshman Faith Garcia (Stamford, Conn./Staples), shot 341 in the first round before carding 353 in the final round to finish with 694.
"I thought our players played very well the first day of the tournament battling through adverse conditions," commented head coach Susan DeKalb. "To enter the final round in sixth place and to finish in 11th is disappointing. Our players need to understand that tournaments don't end in a day and we need to play consistent golf throughout the whole tournament."
Garcia opened up play with 86 before taking three strokes off for a final round 83, good for a total of 169 and a share of 36th. Junior Rebecca Gaona (Howell, N.J./Howell) carded 81 and 93 to compile a 36-hole score of 174, two shots in front of rookie Sarah Kokotajlo (Ewing, N.J./Ewing), who fired 86 and 90 over the two-day event. Classmate Erin DiDonato (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) concluded the tournament a shot behind Kokotajlo with 177 after rounds of 88 and 89, while Ashley Navin (Ware, Mass./Quabbin Regional) rounded out the Hawks' card with 191.
Playing as an individual, junior Jessica Kavanagh (Point Pleasant, N.J./Point Pleasant Boro) registered her career low round of 77 in the first 18-holes, before shooting 88 to earn a share of 21st overall with her score of 165.
Seton Hall cruised to the team title, firing 614 (311-303) to finish 15 shots in front of runners-up Rutgers.
Monmouth returns to the links this weekend, teeing off in the 36-hole Rutgers Invitational October 10-11.
-@MU_wgolf-
