SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The McKendree University women's golf team completed play here Tuesday by firing a final round score of 325 as a team to capture its first team tournament title of the 2021-22 season at the Dan Salisbury Memorial Collegiate hosted by the University of Illinois-Springfield and held at Panther Creek Golf Club.
The Bearcats finished the two-day event with a 36-hole team score of 637 as they followed up its 312 score in Monday's first round with a 325 in Tuesday's second and final round of action. The 637 is the third lowest 36-hole tournament score this season for the Bearcats as they shot a 634 to finish as the runner-up in the fall at the Drury Lady Panther Invitational and they shot a 635 at the season opening USI Screaming Eagle Invitational.
McKendree won the team title by three shots over Drury, who carded a 640 for 36 holes and 19 shots over third place Rockhurst, who carded a 656 for 36 holes on the par-72, 6,023-yard course.
While the Bearcats took home the team title, freshman
Imogen Rafferty (Derbyshire, England/Trent College) continued her strong play this season as she captured medalist honors for the fourth time this season after carding a 36-hole total of 9-over par 153. Rafferty, who shared the first round lead with two other players, fired a 75 in the opening round and then shot a 78 in Tuesday's final round to win by two shots over runner-up, Madison DeRousse of UIS. DeRousse finished with a 155 for 36 holes as she carded rounds of 78 and 77.
The tournament medalist honor was the fourth this season for Rafferty as the first this spring as she captured first place honors in her first three tournaments of her collegiate career.
In addition to Rafferty, senior
Madeline Larouere (O'Fallon, Mo./Liberty), who was tied for first after shooting an opening round 75, fell back in the second round as she carded an 85 to finish the event in a tie for seventh place after shooting a 160 for 36 holes. It marked her second straight tournament of shooting 160 as she also carded a 160 en route to finishing in a tie for 18th place at the Saginaw Valley State Spring Invitational.
Sophomore
Martina Hicks (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho/Coeur d'Alene), who shot rounds of 81 and 79, also finished in a tie for seventh place as she carded a season-best 36 hole score of 160. It was Hicks' first Top 10 finish in a tournament this season.
The fourth and final Bearcat counter in Tuesday's final round was freshman
Dylan Kirchoff (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township) as she shot an 83 to finish in a tie for 18th place with a 36-hole total of 168.
Kirchoff was tied for 18th with senior
Paige Hamel (Glen Carbon, Ill./Edwardsville) as Hamel followed up her opening round 81 with an 87 in Tuesday final round to finish with a 168 for 36 holes.
McKendree also had a golfer playing as an individual in the event as senior
Brooke Boatman (Troy, Ill./O'Fallon Township) shot a final round score of 76 to finish the event in a tie for fifth place with a 158 for 36 holes. That tie for fifth place was the first this season for Boatman and her final round score of 76 was the second lowest score of the final round.
The Bearcats will return to action on April 10-11 as they close out the regular season by competing at the UMSL Spring Invitational held at Norwood Hills Country Club in St. Louis, Mo.
