Dukes Smash Records on Final Day of Pinehurst Challenge

Monday, October 9

Pinehurst No. 1 | Pinehurst, N.C.

James Madison University

2017 Pinehurst Challenge

10/10/2017 7:31:00 PM | Women's Golf

@JMUWGolf JMU WG on Instagram 2017-18 Statistics Final Results

PINEHURST, N.C. - The James Madison women's golf team broke program records for low single round and low 54-hole total on Tuesday afternoon, as it climbed into a tie for seventh to close out the Pinehurst Challenge, hosted by College of Charleston at par-72, 5,974-yard Pinehurst No. 1.

The Dukes, who had opened the tournament by matching their lowest score to-par in program history, wasted no time in breaking that record, combining to shoot a 1-under 287, the lowest round ever shot by a JMU team. The performance pushed them up the leaderboard at the 19-team event and gave them a final score of 872 (+8), breaking the 54-hole program record by six strokes and the 54-hole record to par by 18.

Senior Laura Gomez-Ruiz led the way for JMU on the final day, firing a 3-under 69 to match her career low, set earlier this season at the Lady Paladin Invitational. The five-birdie round pushed her nine spots up the leaderboard into a tie for seventh at the 100-player tournament, giving her the Dukes' first top-10 finish of the year as she broke her career-best 54-hole mark at 4-under 212.

Senior Maddisen Cox joined Gomez-Ruiz under par, bouncing back with a 2-under 70 in her final round to post her lowest career 54-hole score to par at even-par 216. The effort pushed her 18 spots up the leaderboard and put her in a tie for 22nd, her best finish of the season thus far.

Sophomore Lauren Comegys (73; +1) and junior Katie Turk (75; +3) closed out the JMU scoring, with senior Gabrielle Weiss posted a 4-over 76 of her own. Both Comegys and Turk set new career 54-hole bests at 222 (+6; t49) and 230 (+14; t77), respectively, while Weiss missed her career low by a single stroke.

Playing as an individual, sophomore Morgan Cox closed with her second 3-over 75 of the week, notching her own career best for 54 holes at 229 (+13), good for a tie for 72nd.

QUOTING COACH SARGENT
"I am incredibly proud of these girls today. They came out fearless and battled all day on their way to setting several records. We're excited to get home and get back to work to build on this week."

RECORD BREAKERS
JMU's final round earned it two team records: lowest single round and lowest 54-hole tournament.
- Lowest single round | 287 (-1) | Previous record (total): 288 (+4); Golfweek Program Challenge (9/8-10/13) and UNCG Starmount Fall Classic (9/30-10/1/13) | Previous record (to par): 289 (+1); UNCW Lady Seahawk Classic (3/24-25/12) and Pinehurst Classic (10/9-10/17)
- Lowest 54-hole tournament | 872 (+8) | Previous record: 878 (+26); Golfweek Program Challenge (9/11-13/11)

UP NEXT
The Dukes will take just over a week off before heading to Rehobeth Beach, Del. on Oct. 21-22 to compete in the Blue Hen Invitational, hosted by Delaware at Rehobeth Beach Country Club.