SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The McKendree University women's golf team opened its 2022-23 season here Tuesday by shooting a 633 for 36 holes to finish in a tie for second place at the Dan Salisbury Memorial Invitational hosted by the University of Illinois-Springfield and held at Panther Creek Country Club.
McKendree finished tied with both Maryville and Drury University at the eight team season opening event that featured 44 players playing 36 holes in one day.
The Bearcats opened the event shooting a first round score of 312, before carding a second round score of 321 at Panther Creek.
Illinois-Springfield won the team title with a 618 for 36 holes to win by 15 shots in the three second place teams. Lewis was fifth with a 653, while Quincy was sixth with a 653. McKendree's 'B' Team placed seventh with a 683 and Illinois College was eighth with a 685 for 36 holes.
Leading the way for the Bearcats was sophomore
Dylan Kirchoff (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township), who carded a 36-hole total of 156 to finish in a tie for fifth place. Kirchoff shot back-to-back rounds of 78 at the event.
Drury's Isabella Thrall took home medalist honors at the event as she shot a 7-over par 151 for 36 holes to win by two shots over runner-up Bobbi Uhl of Illinois-Springfield, who shot a 153 for 36 holes. Thrall fired rounds of 78 and 73, while Uhl had rounds of 79 and 74.
Leading the way for the 'B' Team was graduate student
Rachael Kell (Nashville, Ill./Maryville University), who shot rounds of 79 and 78 respectively to finish in a tie for seventh place in her first event as a Bearcat.
In addition to Kirchoff, sophomore
Imogen Rafferty (Derbyshire, England/Trent College) and freshman
Sarah Capel (Marion, Ill./Marion) each finished tied for 10th place with 36 hole scores of 158. Rafferty shot rounds of 82 and 76, while Capel shot an opening round 74, before firing an 84 in the final round.
The fourth counter for the Bearcats was fifth-year senior
Madeline Larouere (O'Fallon, Mo./Liberty), who shot a 161 for 36 holes to finish in a tie for 16th place. Larouere fired rounds of 78 and 83 respectively.
McKendree's fifth and final golfer was freshman
Audrey Cain (Godfrey, Ill./Alton Marquette Catholic), who posted a 36 hole score of 167 to finish in a tie for 27th place. Cain shots rounds of 83 and 84 respectively in her first collegiate tournament.
Along with Kell, the No. 2 finisher for the 'B' Team was junior
Martina Hicks (Coeur d'Alene, Id./Coeur d'Alene), who shot a 160 for 36 holes to finish in a tie for 13th place.
Graduate student
Paige Hamel (Glen Carbon, Ill./Rend Lake College) was the third finisher for the 'B' Team as she shot a 183 (91, 92) for 36 holes to finish in 38th place overall, while sophomore
Annaston Reitz (High Ridge, Mo./Northwest) finished in 39th place with a 184 for 36 holes after carding rounds of 98 and 86 respectively.
The fifth and final competitor for the 'B' Team was junior
Emeline Brockland (Columbia, Ill./Columbia), who carded a 190 for 36 holes after shooting rounds of 97 and 93 respectively.
In addition to sending two teams to the season opening event, the Bearcats also had two individuals competing as freshman
Kathryn Smith (Belleville, Ill./Belleville East) finished 42nd overall after shooting a 195 (95, 100) and junior
Charli Thurlow (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) placed 43rd overall after shooting a 208 (101, 107) for 36 holes.
The Bearcats return to the course on Sept. 19-20 as they compete at the Lady Panther Fall Invitational hosted by Drury University and held at Silo Ridge Golf Cub in Bolivar, Mo.
