Kent State University
UCF Challenge
No. 10 Women's Golf Sixth at UCF Challenge
2/7/2017 4:41:00 PM | Women's Golf
ORLANDO, Fla. – The No. 10 Kent State University women's golf team finished its first tournament of the spring Tuesday, placing sixth overall at the UCF Challenge at the par 72 Eagle Creek Golf Club.
The Golden Flashes finished the tournament with a score of 287, moving up the leaderboard for the second straight day. The Flashes overall shot 3-under par at 861. The team finished ahead of five of GolfStat's top-50 ranked teams.
"Looking back, I was happy with how we moved up throughout the tournament," reflected head coach Greg Robertson. "We started slow but I'm happy that we were still competitive in the end. We will build off this and look forward to getting back on the course in Puerto Rico."
Pimnipa Panthong had the best round of any Flash in the tournament Tuesday, shooting a 68. She recorded five birdies, four coming in her first 10 holes. Her score placed her tied for 12th overall at 4-under par 212. With just five tournaments played in her collegiate career, Panthong becomes the first Kent State golfer to register seven rounds of 68 or better.
One stroke behind Panthong in a tie for 15th place was Wad Phaewchimplee, who finished the tournament at 3-under par 213. Kent State's lone senior in the lineup was consistent throughout the tournament, posting her third straight round of 71 on Tuesday. The Flashes' third player in the top-30 was sophomore Michaela Finn, who finished tied for 28th at 1-over par 217. Finn posted a 74 in the final round.
Karoline Stormo finished her first spring collegiate tournament in a tie for 50th, with a three-round score of five-over par 221. Stormo shot a 76 on Tuesday. Sophomore Kelly Nielsen completed the Flashes' lineup and shot her second-straight 74 in round three. Nielsen ended tied for 62nd at 7-over 223. Marissa Kirkwood competed as an individual and held her own, finishing in a tie for 54th at 6-over par 222. Kirkwood ended the three-day tournament with a 74 Tuesday.
Clemson won the tournament after tying Miami at the end of play, with the fifth golfer in the lineup making the difference. Individually, Chieh Jessica Peng of Mississippi State took the title at 11-under par 205.
The Flashes will return in a week to compete in the Lady Puerto Rico Classic from Feb. 12-14 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.
Players Mentioned
