TOCCOA, GA. — The UIndy women's golf team closed its fall schedule with an eighth place (+23) finish this week at the Ralph Hayes Toyota D2 Elite Invitational. Of the 18 teams competing this week, 10 of them were inside the top-25 of the most recent Scoreboard NCAA DII national rankings.
Along with a loaded team field, this week also saw 13 of the top-25 in the Scoreboard Individual NCAA DII Rankings in the event as well. UIndy freshman Paige Giovenco, was one of those 13 in the most recent top-25 rankings.
The 18-team event was shortened to a two-round event after Monday was completely washed out due to rain in the area.
INS & OUTS
After the first round was moved to Sunday due to expected rain on Monday, the Hounds made a charge up the leader board with four rounds at +1 (73) or better that saw the team in a second place spot right behind the eventual champion, Anderson, heading into the final round. The team had to finish up the remaining holes from its first round after the first round was called due to darkness on Sunday, before taking on the final 18 holes on Tuesday afternoon.
"It was a tale of two days for us," head coach Andy Serketich said. "The first day might have been our best team day of the semester. All 5 players were super solid and we were leading until play was suspended for darkness."
"Today the conditions were a little tougher but that said, we didn't play well. We'll learn from today and apply it for next time, so ultimately it's a tough ending to the fall season," Serketich said.
Macey Brown led the way for UIndy with a bogey free -1 (71) after the first round. Brown's under par round was only one of nine under par rounds in the first round. Brown closed out her tournament with a +9 (81), which landed her in T35 position.
Giovenco ended her first round right behind Brown with an even par (72) that was highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 first hole. But her second round +4 (76) kept her inside the top-20, ending with the Greyhounds highest place finish of the weekend at T17.
Senior Ava Ray and junior Caroline Whallon both finished T28 at +6 after matching 73-77 rounds. While Valentina Cortez rounded out the Greyhounds five person squad with a +12 score that saw her finish 52nd.
"We've shown that our good golf is amongst the best in the country and we are going to work hard this offseason to improve our consistency," Serketich said. "The sky is the limit for our team and we are excited for the spring championship season."
"We are grateful for all of our families who travel to every event and for all of our alums, families and friends who follow along online," Serketich said.
UP NEXT
UIndy will be back in action in the spring after a successful fall stretch that saw the team put together multiple top three team finishes.
