BOLIVAR, Mo. – The McKendree University women's golf team concluded play here Tuesday in the Lady Panther Invitational by shooting a final round score of 321 as a team to finish in sixth place out of 15 teams at the event hosted by Drury University and held at Silo Ridge Country Club.
The Bearcats completed the two-day, 36-hole event with a team score of 641 to finish one shot in front of Maryville, William Jewell and Union (Tenn.) University, who each shot scores of 642 for 36 holes to finish in a tie for seventh and 15 shots behind fourth-place Winona (Minn.) State. Winona State carded a 650 as a team for 36 holes to finish in fifth place.
McKendree's final round score of 321 followed its opening round score on Monday of 320.
Christian Brothers took home the team title as they fired a 36-hole total of 610 as a team to win by five shots over runner-up Illinois-Springfield, who shot a 615 as a team and seven shots in front of third place Drury, who shot a 617 for 36 holes.
Leading the way for the Bearcats was graduate student
Rachael Kell (Nashville, Ill./Maryville University) as she fired an 11-over par 155 for 36 holes to finish in a tie for 13th place. Kell opened with a 75 in the first round, before carding an 80 in the Tuesday's final round. Kell recorded 23 pars at the event and was tied for second in par-4 scoring at 4-over par as she averaged 4.20 on the par-4 holes.
Illinois-Springfield's Heather McLean took home medalist honors with a two-round, 36-hole total of 149 as she recorded rounds of 77 and 72 respectively. Five golfers finished in a tie for second place with a 6-over par 150 for 36 holes.
In addition to Kell, freshman
Sarah Capel (Marion, Ill./Marion) shot a 158 for 36 holes to finish in a tie for 25th place. Capel shot an opening round 81 and then followed that up with a final round score of 77. The 77 was tops in the final round among the Bearcat golfers. Capel had 22 pars at the event and among the tournament leaders in par-3 scoring as she played the par-3 holes at 1-over par and averaged 3.13 on those holes.
Sophomore
Dylan Kirchoff (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township) was the No. 3 counter for the Bearcats at the event as she shot a 36-hole total of 163 to finish in a tie for 46th place. Kirchoff shot an opening round 82, before carding an 81 in the final round.
The fourth and final counter for the Bearcats was sophomore
Imogen Rafferty (Derbyshire, England/Trent College), who shot rounds of 82 and 83 respectively to finish in a tie for 56th place with a 165 for 36 holes.
The fifth and final golfer for the Bearcats team was fifth-year senior
Madeline Larouere (O'Fallon, Mo./Liberty), who followed up her opening round 83 with a final round score of 86 to finish in a tie for 66th place with a 169 for 36 holes.
McKendree also sent one individual to the event as graduate student
Paige Hamel (Glen Carbon, Ill./Rend Lake College) followed up her opening round 92 with a final round score of 77 to finish in a tie for 66th place with a 169. Hamel was one of three golfers at the tournament that recorded an eagle and she was for second in the field in birdies with four.
The Bearcats will return to action on Oct. 10-11 as they compete in the Women's National Preview, which is being hosted by UMSL and held at Fox Run Golf Club in Eureka, Mo.
