Youngstown, Ohio - The Youngstown State women's golf team carded a first-round score of 287 on Monday to take a commanding lead after day one of the sixth annual Roseann Schwartz Invitational at Mill Creek Golf Course.
At one under par, the Penguins are 17 strokes ahead of second-place Cleveland State. YSU's first-round 287 ranks as the third-lowest 18-hole score in school history, and is the program's fourth round of par or better.
Five Penguins sit in the top 10 of the individual standings following Monday's first round. Leading the way is freshman Danae Rugola, who fired a three-under-par 69 in her collegiate debut to grab a three-shot lead heading into the final round. Her first-round 69 is the lowest ever recorded by a YSU freshman, and is tied for the fifth-lowest round in school history.
Rugola's impressive performance featured 13 pars and four birdies as she made par or better on each of her first nine holes. After a bogey on No. 10, which was her only miscue of the day, the freshman played the final eight holes at three under par. Rugola's birdies came on the fourth, twelfth, seventeenth and eighteenth holes.
Victoria Grans is three strokes back of Rugola in second place after turning in an even-par 72. The sophomore's first round included 12 pars and three birdies. After bogeying two of her first four holes, she responded with a birdie at No. 5 and went on to make par or better on nine straight holes. Grans also recorded birdies at No. 8 and No. 15.
Puthita Khuanrudee and Christina Lewis each shot a first-round 73 on Monday to tie for third place with Cleveland State's Madison Butler. Khuanrudee, the reigning Horizon League Freshman of the Year, recorded 12 pars and three birdies. She finished strong by making par or better on seven of her final eight holes including each of the last six. The sophomore carded birdies on No. 11, No. 13 and No. 15. She played her final eight holes at one under par.
Like Rugola, Lewis enjoyed a very successful and impressive collegiate debut. The freshman made par on her first four holes and went on to play the front nine at even par. She also had a strong finish by shooting par or better on six of her final seven holes. Lewis notched birdies at No. 8 and No. 12. Playing as individual, Britney Jonda carded a career-low 78 to tie for 10th after one round of play. The sophomore's round included 11 pars and a birdie on No. 18.
Kara Raines and Jenna Vivo are each tied for 14th after recording first-round scores of 79. After two straight bogeys to begin her round, Raines responded by making par or better on her next nine holes including a birdie on No. 9. Vivo registered nine pars and a birdie on No. 7 during her first round.
Junior Tori Utrup is tied for 18th after carding an 81, and freshman Ally St. Clair is tied for 24th with an 83. Utrup recorded a birdie at No. 8 while St. Clair birdied No. 9 and No. 18.
The Penguins will be looking to defend their Roseann Schwartz Invitational title and begin the 2019-20 season with a victory in Tuesday's second and final round. A shotgun start is set for 8:30 a.m., and admission for fans is free.
