Kent State University
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Marilynn Smith/Sunflower Invitational
Flashes Take Top Two Spots to Dominate Sunflower Invitational
10/19/2022 8:10:00 AM | Women's Golf
Lawrence, KAN... Despite frigid temps delaying and shortening the finish of the event, the Kent State women's golf team pressed through the cold and rolled through the 15-team field to win this year's Sunflower Invitational, locking out the top two spots and claiming three of the top six, and four of the top 15.
The Flashes have finished their first three events of 2022 in the top-five with this tournament victory marking the first team win of the season. While Kent State was good all around in Kansas this week, it was their game on the green that really allowed them to shine.
"The ladies showed a lot of grit and fought through very difficult conditions," Flashes head coach Casey VanDamme said. "We were impressed with their putting and short game this week."
Mayka Hoogeboom was in particularly rare form, posting the second (71) and third (72) lowest individual rounds in the field of 83 en route to her second individual collegiate victory.
Hoogeboom was pursued closely by teammate and reigning MAC Freshman of the Year Jennifer Gu, who sank ten birdies to take second in Lawrence.
"We want to congratulate Mayka and Jenn for their individual performances," VanDamme said. "The whole team has been working hard and it's great to see them get a win."
After leading the Flashes last time out in Knoxville, Noramol Nuchsila put together another impressive performance, carding a field-best score of 70 in the opening round to finish just four strokes off the lead in a tie for sixth.
This tournament saw the emergence of Leon Takagi, who posted the first top-15 finish of her young collegiate career to help ensure the team's surge to the front of the pack.
It was also a season-best finish for Blanca Yague-Cuadros, who stayed steady and finished strong, keeping the entire Kent State lineup in the top-third of the 83-player field.
Kent State will be back in action to close out the fall portion of their schedule when the Flashes travel to Florida for the Hurricane Invitational on October 31.
Final Results
1. #20 Kent State +21, 741
2. Sam Houston +29
3. #12 Arizona +38
4. Kansas +41
5. Wisconsin +45
6. Minnesota +49
7. Tulane +55
8. #23 Nebraska +56
9. New Mexico State +68
T10. Washington State +72
T10. Boston College +72
T10. UTSA +72
13. Notre Dame +74
14. BYU +75
15. Iowa +85
The Lineup
1. Mayka Hoogeboom +2, 182 (71-72-39)
2. Jennifer Gu +3, 183 (71-75-37)
T6. Noramol Nuchsila +6, 186 (70-76-40)
T15. Leon Takagi +10, 190 (77-75-38)
T26. Blanca Yague-Cuadros +15, 195 (77-77-41)
Players Mentioned
