Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Duquesne University women's golf team wrapped up its first regular season in program history Monday, finishing fourth out of eight teams with score of 623 at the YSU Spring Invitational. It marks the best score for the Dukes this season in a 36-hole event, which came in Warren, Ohio, at Avalon Lakes Golf Course.
 
TEAM LEADERBOARD
Host Youngstown State garnered the team title, opening with a 287 (-1) and finishing the two days of action at 582 (+6). Bucknell (596) claimed second, 14 strokes off the pace, while Saint Francis U (606) earned third. Following the Dukes and rounding out the field was Mercyhurst (631), Le Moyne (652), La Salle (669) and Saint Joseph's (737).
 
THE ROOKIE
Leading the charge for Duquesne and putting a cap on a consistent debut during the regular season was freshman Sasha Petrochko. Opening play Sunday among frigid conditions, she handed in a 75 (+3). Rallying in the second round, Petrochko finished even in carding a 72. She opened play Monday with a birdie on the first hole, a 356-yard par four, before recording a double bogey on number two, also a par four and this time at 370 yards. Unfazed, Petrochko posted a pair of birdies in the span of three holes to close out the front nine with a 35 (-1). She opened the back nine with her fourth birdie of the round to go to two under before recording a bogey at No. 12 and on No. 17 to finish even. For her efforts, she rose four spots in the individual rankings to finish fifth.
 
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
Neeranuch Prajunpanich and Valentina Pena Anaya of the Penguins each closed at 144 to claim medalist honors. Both student-athletes finished even for the tournament, with Pena Anaya handing in a 70 (-2) Monday. The best round of the event came from Maddi Shoults of YSU, who opened with a 69 (-3) and finished two strokes behind her two teammates at 146 (+2). Also carding a 146 was Katherine Vice of Bucknell, who finished at 73 in both rounds.  
 
THE LINEUP
Junior Lindsey Powanda closed the YSU Spring Invitational at 154 (76, 78) to finish in a tie for 15th individually with Tara Thomas of Bucknell. Meanwhile, a trio of Dukes finished within two strokes of each other during the event. Freshman Abby Slankster shaved seven strokes off her first round score to close at 163 (85, 78), a stroke ahead of freshman Katie Caryl (164). Rookie Katie Fodale, meanwhile, handed in a 165 (81, 84) to finish two strokes behind Slankster and one behind Caryl. Each of the trio finished in the top 30 of a field that featured 55 participants. Freshman Paige Meyers, meanwhile, closed her debut NCAA Division I regular season at 168 (86, 82).
 
UP NEXT
Duquesne now gears up for the 2025 Atlantic 10 Championship, which is set for Thursday, April 17, through Saturday, April 19, in Orlando, Fla., at Evermore Resort.
 
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