PHOENIX, Md. – Towson University junior Casey VanDyke shot a career-low 74 Monday to finish third in the 90-person field at the Tignanelli Towson Invitational. VanDyke, who also shattered her 36-hole career-best by posting a 151 in the two-day event, trailed the leaders by just one shot.
“It felt great to play so well in my first collegiate
tournament in over a year,” said VanDyke, who suffered a wrist injury in the
first tournament last season. “I thought I struggled a little bit yesterday,
but really put it all together today.”
VanDyke’s prior low round before the event was a 78, accomplished twice. Her
prior best 36-hole performance was a 158 at the 2010 Dartmouth Invitational.
“Casey has worked so hard all summer and it really showed this weekend,” said
Tiger head coach Kate Stepanek. “She had a great round today and this makes for
a great start to her season.”
Van Dyke trailed only Elizabeth Haycock of Old Dominion and Harrin Lee of St. John’s, who tied for the individual tournament lead by posting identical two-day totals of 150. Haycock took home the first-place hardware via the tiebreaker. Van Dyke also used the tiebreaker rule as she finished tied with Delaware’s Natalie Filler, but reached the podium based on the fourth tiebreaking hole.
“It feels amazing to be fully healthy and back competing,”
said VanDyke. “We have such a great team this year and all the girls really
backed me up.”
St. John’s won the team title with a two-day score of 611. Defending champion, Old Dominion, was just five shots back with a 616. William & Mary (626),
Delaware (634) and Hartford (644) complete the Top 5. Towson claimed 13th
with a 665 and Towson Gold finished tied for 14th with a 680.
In her first event as a Tiger, freshman Tensley Clowser finished tied for 27th with rounds of 80 and 81. Junior Carley Stenger, who fired a career-low 82 on
Sunday, posted an 84 in the final round today to finish with a career 36-hole low of 166, tying her for 45th in the field.
“The Tignanelli Towson Invitational was a great event this year with a very
talented field coming to the Towson Golf and Country club,” said Stepanek. “We
couldn’t have put on such a great event without the support of the people
coming out for the Baltimore College Golf Weekend. We can’t thank enough the support staff
of the club, the volunteers and the golf shop staff.”
-TowsonTigers.com-
