CASEYVILLE, Ill. – The McKendree University women's golf team concluded play here Tuesday afternoon by posting a second place finish out of seven teams at the McKendree Bearcat Dual Gender Tournament held at Far Oaks Golf Club.
 
McKendree, who was in first place by six shots following the conclusion of the suspended second round on Tuesday morning, recorded a final round score of 333 to fall from first place to second place in the tournament. The Bearcats finished the event with a 983 for 54 holes as along with its final round 333, McKendree shot a 319 in the opening round and 331 in the second round.
 
While the Bearcats struggled in the final round, Rockhurst would take advantage of those struggles as they made up that six-shot deficit midway through the third round and would record a final round 318 to finish with a 974 for 54 holes to claim the tournament title by nine shots. Maryville posted as third place finish as they shot a 990 for 54 holes, while Quincy was fourth with a 54-hole total of 1,023.
 
While Rockhurst won the team title by nine shots, the biggest drama down the stretch of Tuesday's would be who would come away with individual medalist honors as sophomore Imogen Rafferty (Derbyshire, England/Trent College) and Caroline Setter battled until the final shot on the final hole.
 
On the final hole, which was No. 9, both players were tied at +19, but Rafferty would ultimately prevail as she two-putted on the green for a par, while Setter recorded a bogey to give Rafferty the tournament title by one shot. The tournament medalist honor is the fifth of Rafferty's brief collegiate career and first this season.
 
For the tournament, Rafferty finished with a 235 for 54 holes as she shot a final round of 81, along with carding a 73 in the first round and an 81 in the second round. Rafferty led the 39-player field in par-5 scoring as she played the par-5 holes at 4-under par and averaged 4.73 on those holes and tied for second in birdies with six and was tied for third in pars with 27.
 
Setter had to settle for second place as she shot a 236 for 54 holes as she had rounds of 74, 79 and 83 respectively, while Rockhurst's Jayden Berrey was third with a 240 for 54 holes. The final two members of the All-Tournament Team were Maryville's Ssu Tung Lai and Rockhurst's Emma Mullendore, who shot 241 and 242 respectively to finish in fourth and fifth place overall.
 
In addition to Rafferty, freshman Sarah Capel (Marion, Ill./Marion) also recorded a Top 10 finish overall as she shot a 248 for 54 holes to finish in a tie for eighth place. Capel posted a final round score of 88 after firing 80's in the opening two rounds. Capel had five birdies, 21 pars and was tied for fourth in par-5 scoring at 2-over par and averaged 5.13 on the par 5 holes.
 
Graduate student Rachael Kell (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) tied for 11th overall in the tournament as she fired a 54-hole total of 249 after carding a final round of 82. She also had rounds of 83 and 84 respectively. Kell was second in the tournament field with 28 pars and was tied for third in par-3 scoring as she played the par-3 holes at 6-over par as she averaged 3.40.
 
Junior Martina Hicks (Coeur d' Alene, Idaho/Coeur d' Alene) finished tied for 12th place overall as she fired a 251 for 54 holes. Hicks opened with an 83, before carding an 86 in the second round and an 82 in Tuesday's final round. Hicks was tied for fourth in par-5 scoring as she averaged 5.13 on those holes.
 
The fifth golfer for the Bearcats was sophomore Dylan Kirchoff (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township), who shot a 268 for 54 holes to finish in 29th place overall. Kirchoff opened with an 85, before shooting rounds of 92 and 91 respectively.
 
McKendree also had a 'B' Team competing at its own event and the 'B' Team concluded the event by shooting a 1,038 for 54 holes to finish in fifth place overall. The 'B' Team opened with a 350, before shooting a 344 in the second round and then carding another 344 in the final round.
 
Leading the way for the 'B' Team was graduate student Paige Hamel (Glen Carbon, Ill./Rend Lake College), who finished tied for eighth place overall with a 248 for 54 holes. Hamel, who had 25 pars and three birdies in the event, shot a final round 78 after carding back-to-back rounds of 85 in the first two rounds.
 
Fifth-year senior Madeline Larouere (O'Fallon, Mo./Liberty) was the No. 2 finisher for the 'B' Team as she carded a 251 for 54 holes to finish in a tie for 12th place. Larouere opened the event with a 90, before shooting a 79 in the second round and an 82 in the final round.
 
Freshman Audrey Cain (Godfrey, Ill./Alton Marquette Catholic) posted a 54-hole score of 266 to finish in 27th place overall. Cain shot an opening round 85, before firing rounds of 89 and 92 respectively.
 
Junior Charli Thurlow (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) shot a 273 for 54 holes to finish in 31st place as she carded rounds of 90, 91 and 92 respectively.
 
The fifth and final golfer for the 'B' Team was sophomore Annaston Reitz (High Ridge, Mo./Northwest), who shot a 297 for 54 holes to finish in a tie for 37th place overall. Reitz finished the event with a 99 in the final round after shooting rounds of 93 and 105 respectively.
 
McKendree also had one player compete as an individual as junior Emeline Brockland (Columbia, Ill./Columbia) shot a 290 for 54 holes to finish in 36th place after firing rounds of 94, 92 and 104 respectively.
 
The Bearcats will return to the course on Oct. 29-30 as they conclude its 2022 fall schedule by competing at the Kentucky Wesleyan Fall Invitational, which will be held at the Pearl Club in Owensboro, Ky.