LAKEWOOD, NJ – Monmouth University Women's Golf sophomore Liddie McCook (Chester Springs, PA/Downingtown East) fired a four-over par 76 to win the first event of the Monmouth Spring Series in a solid field Monday at Eagle Ridge Golf Club. The Hawks took second as a team in the first tournament in over a calendar year, with three Hawks individually finishing in the top-15.

McCook's four-over 76 was enough to take first place in the tournament, edging out a pair of St. John's competitors by one shot. After a birdie on her first hole, she went out in 39 before opening the back nine with a bogey. After that, she went on to par the final eight holes to hold off the field and win her second collegiate tournament.
 
Senior Cassidy Gavaghan was Monmouth's second top-10 finisher, tying for seventh with an 81 that included a birdie on the 13^th hole. Mia Sutton placed 12^th, firing an 83 while making par on nine of her last 10 holes. Isabel Vance was one shot behind Sutton in a tie for 13^th, with Paige Diecidue placing T19. Amanda Hart was T21, with Mackenzie Matarese posting an 87 to rank 23th with a birdie on 17. Claire Orr and Nicole Totland were both T24, shooting 88.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES

"First of all, I can't explain how great it was to wear the Blue and White today - so proud of our young women! It was terrific hosting the first of our three home invitationals this spring and to have 42 competitors representing the MAAC, Big East, NEC, Patriot League, and the Big 10 conferences was special and a new first for our program. We had two squads participating - also a first for us! Our second-place finish was a great start to our year, and certainly our performance across the board had so many highlights, but also real areas where we can improve fast. As I told our players, it's a marathon not a sprint, lots of places to improve and lots to build on." – Head Coach Michelle Melia
 
"I couldn't be happier for Liddie McCook's victory today! What an amazing first performance following two surgeries, and not only didn't she miss a beat, she has used the time to improve. Also very happy to have four players finish in the top 15, with  Cassidy Gavaghan finishing in the top 10. Great performances today from Mia Sutton and Isabel Vance to round out the top 15. We are excited to get back to work as we prepare for a great field at the Knights Shootout in 2 weeks." – Melia on her top competitors today
 
-Liddie McCook won her second career tournament, also winning at Hofstra last fall as a freshman.
-McCook posted her fifth career round in the 70's and led the Monmouth card for the third time in her career.
-This marks the third top-five and fourth top-10 finish in McCook's career.
-Mackenzie Matarese tied her career-low round set in the 2019 MAAC Championships, shooting 87.
-Mia Sutton's 83 is one shot off her career best of 82.
-This marked MU's first event in over a calendar year.
-Saint John's won the tournament, finishing 11 shots ahead of MU.
-The Hawks shot 328, +40 as a group for the first group. The second group shot 342.
 
UP NEXT
-Monmouth is back in action at the FDU Shootout on Sunday, March 14 at Watchung Valley Golf Club in Watchung, NJ.