After struggling to a 15th-place finish in the Moon Golf Invitational, NC State women’s golf recovered in a big way by earning second place at the Daniel Island Invitational.
Sophomore Marie Eline Madsen led the Pack as usual, but she had lots of help from the rest of the team. After a rough Round 1 left NC State in sixth place, the team could’ve continued the pattern of play that started in its last event. Instead, they played 3-under-par the rest of the way and settled into second place with a 6-over-par score.
Madsen finished in first place for the second time this season and the fourth time in her career with the Pack — setting the program record for career wins at NC State. The No. 13 player in the country has played a few events without a top finish, but returned to the standard she set earlier in the season with a 7-under-par performance.
Senior Vania Simont had her second-highest placement of the season, a tie for 11th. Playing in her fourth year for NC State, the Mexico City, Mexico native ended at even par. Simont’s 66 strokes in the second round makes up the third lowest round in program history.
Freshman Ellie Hildreth joined Simont and Madsen in the top 20 in a tie for 18th. After playing 6-over-par through the first two rounds, she dialed in a 2-under-par performance in Round 3 to climb the rankings.
Freshman Lindsay McGrath climbed five spots in the final round to enter a tie for 34th, while junior Lea Ludwig rounded out the Wolfpack’s scoring in a tie for 66th. Both players played better as the competition went on after so-so first-round performances.
Junior Leena Stephens placed in a tie for 72nd in her first rounds of the season, but competed individually, so her results didn’t contribute to the Wolfpack’s score.
The Daniel Island Invitational is held at Ralston Creek, a course designed by architect Rees Jones in the South Carolina Lowcountry.
In last year’s Daniel Island Invitational, the Wolfpack took home first, but they were bested this year by High Point University.
Next up for Wolfpack women’s golf is another trip to South Carolina for the Briar’s Creek Invitational on March 16 and 17.
