Karoline Stormo (Kent State Athletics)
Two weeks in, Kent State’s fall season has heavy shades of déjà vu. The Golden Flashes remain undefeated after winning their second consecutive team title at the Mercedes Benz Invitational on Tuesday.
Kent State also won the season-opening Dick McGuire Invitational last week. The team won the same two events to start the 2018-19 season, and went on to win four more times that year.
The win marks the third time the Flashes have won at the Mercedes-Benz in the 23 seasons the tournament has been played.
"Winning doesn't happen all the time in college golf," said head coach Lisa Strom. "We will certainly enjoy this for a few days and get back to work after a little rest. The climb is all about the journey we're on together. We're getting comfortable being around each other and keep pushing each other to be the best versions of ourselves. When you execute at an elite level like this team does, and enjoy doing it together, that's where the magic happens."
This is Strom’s first season with Kent State. She left Texas State to replace Greg Robertson in Kent, Ohio, as he took a job with Oklahoma State, where he had played collegiately.
Kent State finished at 22-under par at Cherokee Country Club in Knoxville, Tenn., five shots ahead of second-place Charlotte, while LSU finished third at 7 over.
Seniors Karoline Stormo (69-68-68) and Pimnipa Panthong (67-69-69) led the tournament after both finished 8-under 205. After a one-hole playoff, Stormo defeated Panthong to win the individual title.
"What a week of tremendous play from our seniors Karoline and Pim. To see them battle it out through the playoff was something special."
It was a breakthrough week for Charlotte as the 49ers, in just their third season of competition, finished runner-up to Kent State and broke several program records.
As a team, the 49ers topped their second-round score of 6-under 278 that set the new lowest round record by going two shots better with Tuesday's 276. Charlotte led the field in par 4 and 5 scoring as a team and drained a field-best 56 birdies on the week. Charlotte tied their best overall finish with a 17-under-par total, which left the team five shots behind Kent State.
Information from Kent State, Charlotte Athletics used in this report
ABOUT THE
Mercedes Benz Intercollegiate
54 hole women's college
tournament hosted by the University of Tennessee.
Team (best four scores out of five players each
round)
and individual competitions.
View Complete Tournament Information