Laura Kowohl ties for 19th at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship at the Cherokee Country Club on Sept. 18. Hosted by Tennessee, NC State finished in 10th place in its second round." />
Courtesy of NC State Women's Golf Twitter
Laura Kowohl ties for 19th at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship at the Cherokee Country Club on Sept. 18. Hosted by Tennessee, NC State finished in 10th place in its second round.
As the fall season continues, the seventh-ranked NC State women’s golf team prepares for the short drive to Chapel Hill to participate in the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational.
On Sept. 5, the Wolfpack started the year off with a statement victory at the Ocean Course Invitational in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. The women held off the Florida State Seminoles to win with a total of 881 strokes in the three-day tournament.
It was a stacked field, including ACC rivals Wake Forest and UNC-Chapel Hill, who both finished in the top five. NC State’s third seed, junior Laura Kowohl, stole the show with a three-day total of 214 strokes. Kowohl’s score was the second-best overall behind the Demon Deacons No. 1 seed, junior Jennifer Kupcho (207).
Despite the season-opening victory, the Wolfpack struggled in its next tournament when it traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee to compete in the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship at Cherokee Country Club.
The NC State women finished 10th out of 15 teams, and did not play to the expectations set in Kiawah Island. However, Kowohl continued her solid season with another three-round total of 214 (+1) to finish tied for 19th. Illinois came out on top in Knoxville, finishing one stroke ahead of Kent State.
Kowohl’s stellar play at the third seed early in the season is a bright spot for the already talented Wolfpack. The Kronau, Germany, native has posted a second and 19th-place finish against stiff competition in the first two tournaments. Kowohl has played in the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational the past two years, and aims to shoot a lower score than her Knoxville performance.
If No. 1 seed junior India Clyburn and No. 2 seed junior Naomi Ko can right the ship and play like they did in Kiawah, then the Wolfpack will be contenders for the top spot at the Ruth’s Chris Invitational.
The talented Tar Heels will host the annual invitational in Chapel Hill. UNC returned three starters from last year’s team that finished ninth at the NCAA Championships: senior Bryana Nguyen, junior Kelly Whaley and sophomore Brynn Walker.
The three-day tournament will begin on Friday at Finley Golf Course in Chapel Hill.