Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Duquesne University women's golf team concluded play in its first home tournament in program history Tuesday at Sewickley Heights Golf Club, finishing second among seven teams at the inaugural Golf Galaxy Collegiate. The Dukes finished with a  54-hole score of 926. Junior Sasha Petrochko, meanwhile, claimed medalist honors, finishing five strokes clear of the runner-up with a score of 219 (+3).
 
HICKORY SMOKED
Petrochko earned her first individual crown of the 2026-27 season as well as second of her career on her home course, finishing two strokes under par in the third and final round Tuesday with a 70. Heading into the back nine two strokes ahead of Joelle Johnson of Bucknell, Petrochko was able to move closer to medalist accolades on the par five hole at No. 14. At 438 yards, Petrochko birdie the hole for the second time in three rounds to extend her lead to three strokes over Johnson. She would clinch the title on the final hole, picking up her eighth birdie of the competition at No. 18, a 348-yard par four.
 
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"It's pretty cool to be honest," Petrochko said. "I was pretty nervous coming down the last couple of holes because we have some tremendous athletes in this tournament. Just to be able to close it out is really special, especially at our home course in an inaugural event. It's also really special for our program. There's a lot of great players in the Pittsburgh area, and I think it shows that Duquesne golf is an amazing place to come to, it's going to be around for a while and it gives them a really great place to play in Western Pennsylvania."
 
WHERE EAGLES DARE
Petrochko wouldn't have been able to seal her second career tournament victory without a fantastic start to the final round. Teeing off on the first hole, she picked up a birdie on the 375-yard par four, then took it one step further two holes later. At No. 3, a 303-yard par four, Petrochko drove the green and converted on her putt to collect an eagle, the first of her collegiate career, to move to three under through the first three holes. Despite picking up a bogey on each of the next two holes, Petrocko steadied, posting par on five consecutive holes before moving to even on the round at No. 11, a 380-yard par four. She rebounded on the par five at No. 14 for the birdie to move back under par en route to the victory. During the three rounds of the tournament, Petrochko led the field on a par five, averaging 4.83 shots (-2).
 
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"I hit a really good drive down the middle of the fairway, and I was down close enough where it was worth going for it," Petrochko said of her approach on No 14. "I took a five iron and hit it pretty close to the pin and was able to two-putt for birdie. It felt good."
 
TEAM CHAMPION
Bucknell was able to claim the team championship at the inaugural Golf Galaxy Collegiate on the strength of a stellar third round. The Bison closed with a 299, the best round by a team in the tournament, and finished at 908, a total of 18 strokes ahead of Duquesne. Marshall (954), Towson (960) and Niagara (978) rounded out the top five, with Mercyhurst (990) and Saint Francis (1,118) completing the field.
 
EAGLE EYE
Petrochko wasn't the only member of the Dukes to collect an eagle during play Tuesday, as junior Abby Slankster got in on the act on the back nine. On the same hole that Petrochko birdied en route to the individual title, Slankster was true down the middle of the fairway before nearing the pin on her second shot to set up the eagle opportunity. She promptly converted to give Duquesne its second eagle of the day, the first of her career as well as the third overall in the tournament. Slankster closed the Golf Galaxy Collegiate with an 80 and tied for fifth individually with Grace Oritisian of Towson with a 54-hole score of 230. It marked a career best for Slankster, who previously had carded a 231 last spring at the Space Coast Classic.
 
THE LINEUP
Also collecting top 20 performances for Duquesne at the Golf Galaxy Collegiate was a quintet of Dukes. Playing as an individual, sophomore Lilly Powell finished 13th with a 237 after firing a 78 Tuesday, one stroke ahead of Katie Fodale, who carded a 79 in the final round and finished at 238. Graduate student Lindsey Powanda was one stroke behind Fodale at 239 after logging her best round Tuesday with a 76. Also playing as an individual, junior Paige Meyers handed in a 76 Tuesday and finished at 242 to close 18th, while freshman Nicol Chovanec finished at 245 to tie for 20th with Olivia Seaman of Mercyhurst. Junior Katie Caryl closed the tournament with a 263.
 
UP NEXT
Duquesne returns to action with the Lehigh Invitational Monday, Oct. 26, and Tuesday, Oct. 27, at National Golf Club Bedminster in Bedminster, N.J.
 
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