BEALLSVILLE, Md. – The Monmouth University women's golf team took off 26 strokes from its first round score in the final 18 holes to finish in 13th at the 10th Annual Hoya Invitational, held at the par-72, 6,127-yard Members Club at Four Streams. Freshman Faith Garcia (Stamford, Conn./Staples) paced the Hawks in the 54-hole event, posting 253 over the two-day event.
Garcia opened play Monday scoring 88 before inking 81 in the afternoon session. On Tuesday, the rookie notched 84 to complete the tournament with a share of 39th overall. Classmate Sarah Kokotajlo (Ewing, N.J./Ewing) shot back-to-back rounds of 87 before a final round 88 to earn 262, four shots in front of Kaitlin Clancy (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West) who overcame opening rounds of 92 and 93 with a final round score of 81. Junior Jessica Kavanagh (Point Pleasant, N.J./Point Pleasant Boro) duplicated her opening round mark of 94 before firing 82 in the final 18 to complete the tournament four back of Clancy. First-year Hawk Erin DiDonato (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) completed MU's card, posting 95 and 90 on opening day, but did not compete in Tuesday's finale. Playing as individuals, Rebecca Gaona (Howell, N.J./Howell) finished with 257 after shooting 91-83-83, while Ashley Navin (Ware, Mass./Quabbin Regional) posted 88-87-84 to accumulate 259.
As a team, the Hawks tallied 361 the first time out before shaving off 10 strokes in second round. On the final day, the Blue and White posted 335 to complete the event with 1047. Hosts Georgetown won the event, posting 941 (313-315-313).
Monmouth returns to action on Wednesday, April 15th when it hosts Fairfield, Hartford and Fairleigh Dickinson in a quad match at Navesink Country Club in Middletown, N.J. Tee time is set for 1:30 p.m.
-@MU_wgolf-
