GREENVILLE, S.C. – For the second time in as many tournaments, Old Dominion women's golf is returning to Norfolk with a trophy in hand as the Monarchs finished second at the Lady Paladin Invitational on Sunday. Furman hosted the three-day tournament at the Furman University Golf Course in Greenville, South Carolina.
"What a tournament," said head coach Mallory Kane. "We are on the final day of an eight-day road trip and the team shot their best score of the week. Pretty remarkable physical and mental fortitude. We gave it all we had today and feel great about our finish."
The Monarchs were neck-and-neck with the Lady Paladins from start to finish. ODU carded an even 288 to lead the 18-team field through the opening round on Friday. Saturday saw the team combine for a six-over 294 as Furman pulled even in the standings. ODU then saved its best round for last as the team turned in a one-under 287 to finish three strokes behind Furman with a five-over 869. Memphis and North Florida both fired 17-over scores of 881 to tie for third.
North Florida's Christin Eisenbeiss captured the individual title at eight-under 208. She fired a pair of four-under 68s in the first and third rounds and added an even 72 in the second. Minnesota's Mariana Mesones and Furman's Anna Morgan were co-runners up and one stroke behind Eisenbess at 209 (-7).
For ODU, Leah Onosato was the team's top finisher as her six-under 210 earned her fourth place. The Kumamoto, Japan native was under par in all three rounds as she shot a 70, 71, and 69 for the Invitational. Lucia Gonzalez was on her heels and tied for fifth at 212 (-4) while Minami Kudo totaled a five-over 221 to tie for 17th. Federica Torre tied for 46th with a final tally of 227 (+11) and Klara Wildhaber's total of 232 (+16) tied her for 71st.
Onosato averaged a 3.87 for the second-best par-4 score. Gonzalez tied for third in par-3 scoring at 2.92 and was tied for third alongside Onosato in par-5 scoring at 4.58. Gonzalez made a team-best 14 putts for birdie, Onosato was next with 12, and Onosato and Wildhaber both tallied 36 putts for par.
ODU continues its fall season next weekend as the Monarchs host the second annual Evie Odom Invitational at the Princess Anne Country Club.
Team Results
1. Furman (293-289-284 – 866) +2
2. Old Dominion (288-294-287 – 869) +5
T3. Memphis (296-289-296 – 881) +17
T3. North Florida (289-299-293 – 881) +17
5. James Madison (303-295-286 – 884) +20
6. Minnesota (302-297-288 – 887) +23
7. Georgia State (295-294-299 – 888) +24
8. UNCW (294-292-303 – 889) +25
9. Western Kentucky (305-295-290 – 890) +26
10. Tulane (294-299-298 – 891) +27
11. Coastal Carolina (300-296-304 – 900) +36
12. Florida Gulf Coast (306-300-295 – 901) +37
13. Daytona St. College (310-297-295 – 902) +38
14. Richmond (311-295-298 – 904) +40
15. South Florida (308-302-299 – 909) +45
16. Florida Atlantic (303-303-305 – 911) +47
17. Augusta (304-307-303 – 914) +50
18. Stetson (307-305-310 – 922) +58
ODU Lineup
4. Leah Onosato (70-71-69 – 210) -6
T5. Lucia Gonzalez (69-70-73 – 212) -4
T17. Minami Kudo (69-77-75 – 221) +5
T46. Federica Torre (80-76-71 – 227) +11
T71. Klara Wildhaber (80-78-74 – 232) +16
Monarchs Post Runner-Up Finish at Lady Paladin Invitational
