Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Duquesne University women's golf team opened its 2026-27 season by finishing 17th at the Nittany Lion Invitational Tuesday in University Park, Pa., on the Penn State Blue Course. The Dukes finished with a 54-hole score of 933 (315, 309, 309).
TEAM LEADERBOARD
Virginia Tech claimed the team title at the Nittany Lion Invitational, posting an 844 (286, 278, 280) over the course of three rounds. The Hokies finished 20 under par, with each of the top five teams in the tournament each turning the trick. Maryland (-15) finished second, followed by Harvard (-11) and Penn State (-11) and James Madison (-2). Harvard produced the best round of the tournament, finishing at 277 (-11) in round two.
BEGINNINGS
Junior
Sasha Petrochko opened her third season of NCAA Division I competition by taking home top honors for the Dukes. She closed with a 226 (+10), opening the first round Monday with a 77 before handing in a 74 in round two. In the final round Tuesday, Petrochko fired a 75. She finished in a five-way tie for 57th individually, joining Amara Montoya of Akron, Hyuji Kim of Delaware, Reese Hannon of Lehigh and Emma Lee from Yale. Over the course of the competition, Petrochko finished with eight birdies, including five in the final round Tuesday. Twice in three rounds she would produce a birdie at No. 15, a 343-yard par four. Earning medalist honors at the Nittany Lion Invitational was Valentine Delon of the Hokies, who closed at 203 (69, 66, 68), which was 13 strokes under par.
THE LINEUP
Finishing four strokes behind Petrochko was
Lindsey Powanda, who handed in a 230 over 54 holes. She opened with a 79 before carding a 77 in round two and saving her best for last, posting a 74 in the third and final round.
Abby Slankster would close the first tournament of her junior year at 237 (80, 76, 81), while fellow classmate
Katie Fodale finished at 245 (79, 82, 84). The Nittany Lion Invitational also marked the NCAA Division I debut for freshman
Nicol Chovanec, who carded a 250 (85, 86, 79).
UP NEXT
The Dukes will return to the course Friday, Sept. 11, visiting Lewisburg, Pa., to take part in the Bucknell Fall Invitational for the first of three rounds. The 54-hole tournament will see Duquesne play the second round Saturday, Sept. 12, and the final round Sunday, Sept. 13, at Bucknell Golf Club.
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