The women’s golf team kicked off their spring season in Boulder City, Nevada earlier this month. The Hawks competed in The Battle at Boulder Creek at Boulder Creek Golf Course on March 5th and 6th for the second consecutive year. The golf course was played at 6,252 yards with a par of 72. The tournament was a 54 hole event, with 36 holes played during round one and 18 holes played during round two. The field consisted of 12 teams, including Austin Peay State, Eastern Washington, Georgetown, Idaho State, Illinois-Chicago, James Madison, Monmouth, Montana State, Morehead State, Northern Kentucky, Oklahoma City, Radford.
The women finished the tournament with a score of 997 (339-332-326). Junior Haley Goodling posted her seventh round in the 70s of the season and 20th of her career. Goodling led the Hawks’ card for the fifth of her career. Senior Sarah Kokotajlo inked her third round in the 70s of the campaign, the 19th of her career.
“Being able to play and practice in warmer conditions was exactly what we needed to prepare us for the rest of the season,” said senior captain Faith Garcia. “This was our first time playing since the fall, so this tournament allowed us to figure out what we need to improve upon moving forward.”
The Hawks scores from the Battle at Boulder Creek were: Goodling 82-79-83; 244 Kokotajlo 89-84-79; 252 senior Kaitlin Clancy 85-87-81; 253 Garcia 87-85-83; 255 freshman Carla Puig Jou 85-84-92; 261 sophomore Nicole Totland 90-83-95; 268 freshman Cassidy Gavaghan 93-86-92; 271 senior Erin DiDonato 92-92-88; 272.
Just a few days after Nevada, the women headed south to Jacksonville, FL to continue their spring play. During the week-long trip in Florida the Hawks competed in two tournaments back to back. The team played in the Benbow Invitational on March 12-13. The 36 hole event was hosted by Butler at Blue Sky Golf Club. The hawks finished the event in fifth place, with a two day 36 hole total of 643.
Totland recorded her first two rounds in the70s this season, including setting a new career 18 hole and 36 hole score. Her ninth place finish was the best of her career. In the second round, DiDonato took off ten strokes from her opening round score with her second round 79.
The Hawks scores from the Benbow Invite: Totland 76-79; 155 Goodling 81-79; 160 Clancy 79-83; 162 Garcia 82-80; 162 Kokotajlo 82-81; 163 Gavaghan 82-82; 164 DiDonato 89-79; 168 Puig Jou 90-87; 177.
On March 14 and 15, the Hawks closed out their spring break playing in the Bulldog Invite at Windsor Park Golf Course. The Hawks played strong and finished the tournament in second place over all with a 36 hole score of 679. The event was played at 5,969 yards. Five teams competed in the tournament- Butler, Chicago State, Eastern Illinois, Fairfield and Monmouth.
Four Hawks landed in the top 10 individually, with a field of 60 competitors. Goodling and Gavaghan both earned top five finishes. Goodling led the Hawks for the fifth time this season. Playing as an individual, Kokotajlo took off ten strokes from her first round on the second day of the event.
“Playing six straight days in a row was mentally and physically pretty tough, but I think it will help us to play even stronger through the rest of the spring,” Garcia said.
The Hawks scorecard: Goodling 81-84; 165 Gavaghan 83-85; 168 Kokotajlo 90-80; 170 Garcia 85-86; 171 Clancy 86-89; 175 DiDonato 92-86; 178 Puig Jou 85-93; 178 Totland 86-94; 180.
“It was a good week down in Florida as we get into the competitive mode. We faced some adversity with high winds and lower temps,” said Head Coach Susan Dekalb.
The women will continue play on April 6-7 at the Navy Invite in Annapolis, MD.
PHOTO COURTESY of Monmouth Athletics
