Jacksonville, Fla. - The Youngstown State women's golf team earned its third victory of the season, and had four golfers finish in the top 10 in the Benbow Invitational at Blue Sky Golf Club on Tuesday.
The Penguins jumped out to a nine-shot lead with a team score of 298 in the first round on Monday. It was the team's eighth 18-hole team mark below 300 in 2018-19; there were only four such rounds in school history before this season. YSU carded a 308 in the second and final round on Tuesday to secure an 11-stroke victory over runner-up Radford.
YSU had four golfers finish in the top 10 of the individual standings, three of whom tied for sixth. Victoria Grans (79-73), Rattika Sittigool (73-79) and Jenna Vivo (76-76) each recorded a two-round 152 to lead the Penguins. Sittigool was tied for first place following her 1-over-par 73 on Monday. Katlyn Shutt fired a 155 (75-80) to finish tied for 10th while Puthita Khuanrudee carded a 157 (74-83) to finish tied for 16th. Playing as an individual, Megan Creager finished with a 167 (84-83).
"Today wasn't our best, but I'm very proud of the way we kept fighting," said head coach Nate Miklos. "We had a very strong event and continue to be excited with our progress. It truly was a total team effort this week."
YSU has now won at least three events in a season for the 10th time in school history, for the third time under Miklos and for the first time since 2015-16. The school record for victories in a season is five, set in 1997-98 and 1999-2000 under former head coach Roseann Schwartz.
Youngstown State's two-round team total of 606 is tied for the fifth lowest 36-hole performance in program history. The Penguins have now recorded three of the six lowest 36-hole team totals in school history this season. The group's first-round 298 was the only single-round team score of below 300 at the event.
Shutt earned her fourth top-10 finish of the season while Grans claimed her third in the top 10, and fourth in the top 20. Sittigool and Vivo each collected the first top-10 finish of their careers. Sittigool finished in the top 20 for the third time, and Vivo for the second time. Khuanrudee also collected her fourth top-20 finish of the campaign.
YSU set a new season high with four top-10 individual finishes. The Penguins had three golfers finish in the top 10 in each of their first two wins at the Roseann Schwartz Invitational and Dayton Fall Invitational earlier this season.
Beatriz Mosquera Quintas of Radofrd earned medalist honors after shooting a two-round 144 (73-71). Her 1-under-par 71 on Tuesday was the lowest individual round of the tournament.
The Penguins will face a quick turnaround as they remain down south for the one-day Savannah Spring Fling hosted by Savannah State at Crosswinds Golf Club in Savannah, Ga., on Thursday.
