Crane shoots program 54-hole record; wins individual title at Converse Invitational
Inman, S.C. – The Catawba College women's golf team concluded their fall slate on Tuesday at the Converse Invitational, securing second place with a final score of 925, +59 after 54 holes across two days at the Woodfin Ridge Golf Club. The result was the team's best this season and their third straight finish in the Top-4, as Chloe Crane put together a stellar outing en route to taking first place among individuals for her second career victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Crane was outstanding, putting together a historic effort in her first win of the season. Crane's final score of +4, 220 was the best 54-Hole score in Catawba women's golf history, breaking Kaley Bart's previous mark of 221 from the 2018-19 season. She was buoyed by a stellar first round where she shot -3, 69, just the fifth time a Catawba golfer has achieved that number. Crane scored five birdies and only had two bogeys in the opening round, which would prove to be her best by a wide margin. Crane's front-nine featured two birdies and six pars, while her back-nine was comprised of three birdies and five pars. She shot +3, 75 in round two before a +4, 76 in round three, able to remain at the top of the individual leaderboard with a strong back-nine in the final round of eight pars and just one bogey. Crane's nine birdies and 32 pars overall provided a massive spark for Catawba's second place effort.
- Maddy Vogan, competing as an individual, would also notch the best finish of her season so far, coming it at 6th overall with a score of +7, 223. Vogan was consistent throughout, finishing with only 10 holes below par and four birdies. Her best golf came in the back-nine, with a birdie and seven pars during that particular stretch in the first round, seven pars in the second, and her third round back-nine consisting of another birdie and seven pars. A double bogey in the first round dropped her score to +4, 76, but Vogan recovered well with scores of +2, 74 and +1, 73 in rounds two and three, respectively.
· Emily Wellspeak nearly equaled her season best T-11th finish, wrapping up play T-12th with a final score of +10, 231. She was undone by a tough third round after playing superbly across the first two rounds, opening play with +4, 76 that featured a birdie and seven pars during the back-nine. Her second round was nearly perfect, with a two birdie, 15 par effort undone by a triple bogey on the eighth hole for a +1, 73. Wellspeak would fall on the second day, however, as a +10, 82 in the third round would slide her down the board.
· Abbie Daquila finished play T-24th with a score of +19, 235, playing a fantastic third round after a harsh start on Monday. She opened up on Monday with a +8, 80 and followed it with a +10, 82. But she found her swing on Tuesday, putting together an immense stretch of two birdies and 13 pars for a +1, 73 effort and a huge jump up the leaderboard as play concluded.
· Mary-Paige King wrapped up play T-30th at +22, 238, playing her best golf in the opening round with a +6, 78 thanks to a birdie and 11 pars. While she dropped in form slightly, notching a pair of +8, 80 rounds in the second and third, King remained steady throughout.
· Lauren Hackler also played as an individual, finishing on Tuesday T-50th with a mark of +15, 246. Hackler's best form was in the opening round, bouncing back from a tough front-nine post an outstanding three birdie, six par effort during the back stretch. Hackler posted a +11, 83 in the second round and a +15, 87 in the third round to close out the tournament.
· Vera Hutchinson-Kay finished T-65th, starting off on the back-foot on Monday but improving as play went on. She opened with a +15, 87 in the first round and +13, 85 in the second but was able to return on Tuesday with a +9, 81 with a pair of birdies in the back-nine. Hutchinson-Kay was able to score an eagle, coming on the 13th hole during the second round.
NOTES
· This was Crane's second career win, with her first coming in the Jack Ingram Fall Invitational during the 2022-23 season
· Vogan's 40 pars led all players, while Wellspeak was second with 37. Daquila's mark of 35 tied for fourth-best
· Crane's nine birdies tied her for third
· Hutchinson-Kay was one of seven players with an Eagle during the tournament