It was an impressive debut for Caley McGinty with the Ohio State women’s golf team.
In a reunion with coach Lisa Strom, who coached McGinty when she began her college career at Kent State, the Buckeyes captured the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational at the University of New Mexico’s Championship Course in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Ohio State shot an 11-under 853 and finished 10 shots ahead of second-place SMU. McGinty tied for sixth, finishing at 2-under 214 for the week and tying with teammate Aneka Seumanutafa.
McGinty, who transferred to the Buckeyes from Oklahoma State, is ranked seventh in the Women’s Amateur Golf Ranking. She reconnected with Strom, and that bond could propel Ohio State to new heights this season. The team is off to a strong start.
All smiles after a Buckeyes WIN 😁
The team combined for the fourth-lowest 54-hole score in program history and had four top-10 finishers in its win at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational‼️
📰: https://t.co/AsDg28b0WQ#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/qlsJ1RsRim
— Ohio State W Golf (@OhioStateWGOLF) September 13, 2022
Lauren Peter led the Buckeyes, shooting 3 under for the tournament and finishing tied for fourth. However, it was Kent State’s Mayka Hoogeboom coming away with the individual crown. She shot 8-under 208 and beat New Mexico’s Napat Lertsadwattana by one shot.
Speaking of starting a season strong, the Piedmont women’s golf team had a record-setting performance at the Transylvania Invitational. Piedmont set a program record for best 54-hole score as a team, and Erin Donovan set a program-best 54-hole record. The Lions bested the previous record by 41 shots with a 968 team score over the three rounds while Donovan’s 224 over three rounds was nine strokes better than the previous mark.
In New Orleans, it was quite the college debut for Nebraska’s Kelli Ann Strand. She was victorious in the Green Wave Fall Classic at Bayou Oaks at City Park South Course. She shot 14-under 202, beating LSU senior Latanna Stone by two shots.
En route to her victory, Strand set some records. She set a new 54-hole school record, and her 7-under 65 in the second round set a new Nebraska freshman record for best single-round score. Strand, from Challis, Idaho, shot rounds of 67-65-70 en route to the win.
On the west coast, San Jose State picked up right where it left off last season. The Spartans were victorious at the USF Intercollegiate at The Olympic Club’s Ocean Course and were the only team in the field to finish under par, carding a 4-under and winning by four shots over UCLA. San Jose State was 10 under in the final round to come from behind and claim its first victory of 2021.
In the individual competition, preseason third-team All-American Kajsa Arwefjall carded a school-record round of 7-under 64 in the final round to win by two shots at 11 under. Arwefjall birdied four straight holes to begin her back nine.
The win was the first of Arwefjall’s career. And if she can continue playing like she did in San Jose State’s first tournament, the Spartans will show last season wasn’t a flash in the pan.
Cameron Jourdan covers college and amateur golf for Golfweek. Got a college or amateur story? Email him at cjourdan@golfweek.com.
