East Carolina University
Day 2
ECU Claims Team And Individual Titles At Minnesota Invitational
September 16, 2014 | Women's Golf
2014 Minnesota Invitational
Course: The Minikahda Club - Minneapolis, Minn. (Par-72, 6,119 yards)
Team Result: East Carolina finishes 1st out of 14 teams (15-over, 879)
Top Finisher: Frida Gustafsson Spang (9-under, 207) - Individual Champion
Up Next: Lady Paladin Invitational/Furman University Golf Course (Sept. 21-23)
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - East Carolina opened the 2014-15 season by claiming the team and individual titles Tuesday afternoon at the Minnesota Invitational. The two-day, 54-hole event was being held at the par-72 Minikahda Club.
The Pirates (13-0) led wire to wire posting a 54-hole score of 879 (15-over) finishing 21 strokes ahead of second place Colorado (900/36-over). Kansas took third (905/41-over) followed by GRU Augusta and Texas, who share fourth place at 907 (43-over).
"I'm extremely proud of the way we played in our first tournament of the year," ECU Head Coach Kevin Williams said. "The team has put in a lot of hard work leading up to the opener and it's great to see them rewarded with a team title. To perform the way we did against a strong field of BigTen, Big 12 and Pac 12 teams, just makes this special for the whole group. I thought Frida probably played her best golf and was dominate from beginning to end."
Junior Frida Gustafsson Spang, who claimed her third career title and first since freshman season, set a new Minnesota Invitational record with a 9-under par 207 finishing eight strokes ahead of Minnesota's Anna Laorr. Spang's final tally was one stroke off her school record mark of 206, which she set in the fall of 2012 at the UNCG Starmount. During the two-day event, she posted a tournament-best 12 birdies, while leading the 75-person field in par-4 scoring (3.80).
ECU true freshman Lisa Pettersson finished 10th in her first collegiate event after posting an 8-over 224, which included rounds of 75, 75 and 74. The Taby, Sweden native ranked among the tournament leaders in par-3 scoring (t5th/3.00), par-4 scoring (t8th/4.20), total birdies (t10th/7) and total pars (t13th/35).
Junior Nicoline Engstroem Skaug claimed a share of 11th after a 54-hole score of 225 posting her 12th career Top-20 placement. The Oslo, Norway native recorded rounds of 76, 72 and 77 to finish 9-over par.
Rounding out the Pirates roster were senior Katie Kirk (230/14-over) and junior Lane Gakeler (231/15-over) finished tied for 30th and 37th place.
The Pirates will be back in action on Sept. 21-23 when they travel to Greenville, S.C.. to participate in the Lady Paladin Invitational, which will be held at the Furman University Golf Course.
Players Mentioned
