The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
MSU Citrus Challenge – Day Three
Zips Move Inside Top 15 with a Second-Best Final Team Round Score, 296 (+8)
March 22 | Women's Golf
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Results
Sorrento, Fla. – The University of Akron women's golf team fired a second-best 296 (+8) during the final round of the MSU Citrus Spring Challenge to advance two spots on the leaderboard, moving inside the Top 15. The Zips finished the 54-hole event 14th overall 317, 318, 296 – 931 (+67) at RedTail Golf Club on Tuesday.
"Over the past several days, I felt like this golf course was a great test for our mental games," head coach Jenny King said. "We are really working on keeping our attitudes consistent through our ups and downs, no matter the result, and we did a great job."
Akron improved by 22 strokes on the final day of competition, led by sophomore Pader Her (Holt, Mich.). Her tied a season-best 1-under par 71 to go along with a pair of 80 (+8) stroke performances. She finished second in team scoring after climbing 36 spots up the leaderboard to 39th overall with a 231 (+15) tournament total.
Freshman Danielle Nicholson (Geneva, Ohio) followed with a 74 (+2) final round score. Nicholson opened the event with a 1-over par 73 and registered a 79 (+7) second round effort. Nicholson's 226 (+10) strokes over the three-day event led all Zips' scoring. She finished 18th overall, marking her fourth Top 20 finish of the year.
Turning in the third-best scorecard of the day for Akron was junior Alejandra Velasco-Villanueva (Guadalajara, Mexico). She improved by 11 strokes during the final two rounds with help from a 75 (+3) finish. Velasco-Villanueva opened with an 86 (+14) and followed with an 82 (+10), brining her tournament total to 243 (+27). She finished fourth in team scoring and tied at 93rd overall.
After leading the Zips' second round scoring efforts, senior Frida Fougberg (Partille, Sweden) recorded a fourth-best 76 (+4) final effort. Fougberg's previous tallies of 81 (+9) and 77 (+5) combined for a 54-hole total of 234 (+18) strokes. She moved up five spots on the leaderboard to finish tied for 57th overall.
Freshman Makayla Dull (Fremont, Ohio) rounded out the team's scoring efforts with rounds of 81 (+9), 87 (+15), and 79 (+7) for a 249 (+33) while senior Lesli Stolly (Lima, Ohio), playing as an individual, carded scores of 81 (+9), 95 (+23), and 82 (+10) for a 258 (+42) tournament total.
"I was proud of our strong play today and feel like this is great momentum heading into our next event," King said.
Western Kentucky, Elon, and James Madison claimed the tournament's low team score at 899 (+35), however Western Kentucky walked away with the title based on the fifth golfer tiebreaker rule.
Elon's Kelsey Badmaev held on to win medalist honors, 214 (-1), edging out Jacksonville State's Valentina Giraldo by one stroke.
Akron will be back in action at the UC Bearcat Spring Classic at El Campeon Golf Course in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla. The three-day event is scheduled to begin on Friday, March 25 and will end on Sunday, March 27. Fans can follow the action live via BirdieFire Live Scoring.
