Sunday, October 8
Denver, CO
All Day
Oregon State
vs
Ron Moore Invitational
Photo by: Karl Maasdam/Oregon State Athletics
Record-Setting Day For Women’s Golf Team
October 08, 2017 | Women's Golf
HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. – It was a record-setting day for the Oregon State women's golf team at the Ron Moore Invitational on Sunday.
Ellie Slama won the individual title, Olivia Benzin posted the lowest score in school history and the Beavers recorded the program's best three-round score to help them finish second in the 13-team field.
Oregon State concluded the three-day, 54-hole tournament with a 6-under 286-293-279--858 at the par-72, 6,450-yard Highlands Ranch Golf Club.
Denver won the team title with a 15-under 849.
The three Oregon State records that were set on Sunday:
The Beavers' 9-under 279 in the final round was just one shot off the lowest single-round score of 10-under 278 that was set at the NCAA Regionals in Lubbock, Texas last spring.
"After a disappointing finish at Gonzaga, we came together as a team and discussed what we needed to do to be ready for Denver," Oregon State head coach Dawn Shockley said. "We made a few adjustments in how we practiced and they adapted very well.
"It shows the character of this team when they come to you and ask for practice to be harder. We challenged them, made them uncomfortable in practice and they stepped up to compete with some top teams. We always want to win but second place is a very respectable finish at this event."
Slama, a freshman from Salem, Ore., became the 17th Oregon State golfer to win an individual title and the first since Anica Yoo in 2013 (Rose City Collegiate). Slama tied the then-school record with a 5-under 67 in the first round, shot a 1-under 71 in the middle round and finished the tourney with another 5-under 67 to claim medalist honors.
"Ellie came to campus this year as a very talented junior player and it's been wonderful having her embrace our program philosophy and mature as a player," Shockley said. "This is only the beginning for her and we couldn't be prouder."
Benzin, a junior from Tacoma, Wash., notched her sixth career top-10 finish with a tie for eighth place. She not only set a school record with the 6-under 66 but also posted her best three-round score with a 4-under 73-73-66--212. Her previous best marks were a 3-under 69 at the NCAA Regionals last spring and a 1-under 215 at the Westbrook Spring Invitational as a sophomore and the Rose City Collegiate as a freshman.
Sophomore Nicole Schroeder, who competed as an individual, fired three sub-par rounds to post career bests in finish (t-8th) and three-round score (4-under 71-70-71--212). Her previous best marks came last season as a freshman at the Rose City Collegiate with a tie for 22nd and a 9-over 225.
The 4-under 212 by Benzin and Schroeder would have tied the three-round school record, set by Anica Yoo at the NCAA Regionals in 2015, if not for Slama's record-setting 11-under 205.
Senior Susie Cavanagh finished in a tie for 30th place with a 4-over 74-74-72--220, junior Haley Nist was two strokes back with a 6-over 73-75-74--222 for a tie for 34th and sophomore Mari Nishiura carded a 10-over 73-78-75--226 to finish in a tie for 46th.
The Beavers will compete in their final tournament of the fall season on Monday, Oct. 23 and Tuesday, Oct. 24 at the Pac-12 Preview in Kona, Hawai'i.
OREGON STATE ATHLETICS' EVERYDAY CHAMPIONS CULTURE
Through the power of sport, we help people discover and pursue their passions, talents and purpose in order to live a life of balance and positive contribution.
Ellie Slama won the individual title, Olivia Benzin posted the lowest score in school history and the Beavers recorded the program's best three-round score to help them finish second in the 13-team field.
Oregon State concluded the three-day, 54-hole tournament with a 6-under 286-293-279--858 at the par-72, 6,450-yard Highlands Ranch Golf Club.
Denver won the team title with a 15-under 849.
The three Oregon State records that were set on Sunday:
- Best three-round team score of 6-under 858. (Previous best was a 4-over 868 at the Westbrook Spring Invitational in 2016).
- Lowest single-round score of 6-under 66 by Olivia Benzin. (Previous best was a 5-under 67 by Elyse Smidinger at the Rose City Collegiate last fall and a pair of 5-under 67's by Slama at the Ron Moore Invitational).
- Lowest three-round score of 11-under 205 by Ellie Slama. (Previous best was a 4-under 212 by Anica Yoo at the NCAA Regionals in 2015).
The Beavers' 9-under 279 in the final round was just one shot off the lowest single-round score of 10-under 278 that was set at the NCAA Regionals in Lubbock, Texas last spring.
"After a disappointing finish at Gonzaga, we came together as a team and discussed what we needed to do to be ready for Denver," Oregon State head coach Dawn Shockley said. "We made a few adjustments in how we practiced and they adapted very well.
"It shows the character of this team when they come to you and ask for practice to be harder. We challenged them, made them uncomfortable in practice and they stepped up to compete with some top teams. We always want to win but second place is a very respectable finish at this event."
Slama, a freshman from Salem, Ore., became the 17th Oregon State golfer to win an individual title and the first since Anica Yoo in 2013 (Rose City Collegiate). Slama tied the then-school record with a 5-under 67 in the first round, shot a 1-under 71 in the middle round and finished the tourney with another 5-under 67 to claim medalist honors.
"Ellie came to campus this year as a very talented junior player and it's been wonderful having her embrace our program philosophy and mature as a player," Shockley said. "This is only the beginning for her and we couldn't be prouder."
Benzin, a junior from Tacoma, Wash., notched her sixth career top-10 finish with a tie for eighth place. She not only set a school record with the 6-under 66 but also posted her best three-round score with a 4-under 73-73-66--212. Her previous best marks were a 3-under 69 at the NCAA Regionals last spring and a 1-under 215 at the Westbrook Spring Invitational as a sophomore and the Rose City Collegiate as a freshman.
Sophomore Nicole Schroeder, who competed as an individual, fired three sub-par rounds to post career bests in finish (t-8th) and three-round score (4-under 71-70-71--212). Her previous best marks came last season as a freshman at the Rose City Collegiate with a tie for 22nd and a 9-over 225.
The 4-under 212 by Benzin and Schroeder would have tied the three-round school record, set by Anica Yoo at the NCAA Regionals in 2015, if not for Slama's record-setting 11-under 205.
Senior Susie Cavanagh finished in a tie for 30th place with a 4-over 74-74-72--220, junior Haley Nist was two strokes back with a 6-over 73-75-74--222 for a tie for 34th and sophomore Mari Nishiura carded a 10-over 73-78-75--226 to finish in a tie for 46th.
The Beavers will compete in their final tournament of the fall season on Monday, Oct. 23 and Tuesday, Oct. 24 at the Pac-12 Preview in Kona, Hawai'i.
OREGON STATE ATHLETICS' EVERYDAY CHAMPIONS CULTURE
Through the power of sport, we help people discover and pursue their passions, talents and purpose in order to live a life of balance and positive contribution.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
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