The University of Dayton men’s and women’s golf teams hit the course in competition for the first time this season in their respective tournaments.
The women’s team drove north to Detroit, Mich. on Sunday to start the fall season in the Detroit Titans Invitational Sept. 9 to Monday, Sept. 10.
The University of Detroit Mercy hosted the 36-hole tournament competing against four other schools including Youngstown State University, Marygrove (Mich.) College and the University of Illinois-Chicago.
Competing in the tournament for the Flyers were senior Kelly Coakley, juniors Grace Nikolai and Erin Peavy, sophomores Lucy Frey and Kelly Muskat and freshman Michelle (Mika) Suntay.
Suntay finished in third place, playing as an individual, in her first collegiate tournament. In the first round, she shot a 74 and shot a 75 in the final round.
Nikolai finished in 10th place for shooting a 77 in round one and a 79 in round two. This tournament is her third career top-10 finish.
Muskat tied her career-best shooting a 79 in both rounds, finishing in a tie for 12th place. Frey shot an 85 in round one, but in round two recovered to shoot a career-best 75, finishing in 16th place for individuals. Peavy also improved after a first round 87 and shot a 79 in round two. Coakley shot 87-81 over two rounds.
“The first day we struggled,” women’s head coach Sally Kosters said. “However, we came back on the second day pretty well. I’m really pleased about Mika Suntay.”
The Flyers finished in fourth place in the Titans Invitational at +56 in 640 strokes.
The team’s next competition is the Ball Sate Cardinal Classic from Friday, Sept. 22 to Sept. 23 at the Players Club in Yorktown, Ind.
Meanwhile, on Monday, Sept. 10, the men’s team traveled southeast to West Virginia to compete in the 43rd annual Marshall Invitational hosted by Guyan Golf Course in Huntington, W.Va.
The Marshall Invitational was a three-round tournament, with the first two rounds on Monday, Sept. 10 and the final round on Tuesday, Sept. 11.
The Flyers faced a list of schools including host Marshall University, Miami University, Ohio State University, University of Toledo, Virginia Tech University, Western Kentucky University, Wright State University and Xavier University.
The Flyers were lead by senior Sean Keating. He shot a 74 in round one, a 72 in the second round and an one-under 70 in the final round to tie for 19th place.
“This week I felt like I played well overall,” Keating said. “I didn’t score as well as I thought. I should have, but it’s the first tournament of the year and I’m happy with my effort. I know which aspects of my game need some work, and I’ll use this next week to get ready for the Louisville tournament in two weeks.”
Sophomore George Rhode III was tied with Keating going into the final round, but finished out by shooting a 79.
Senior Matt Buse shot a 73 in the opening round, but did better in the second round with a 71 and finished with 74 in third round placing in a tie for 30th. Sophomore Craig Purpus shot 77 in the first round, a 74 in round two and ended with a 76. Senior Brenten Blakeman shot 78 in the first two rounds of play and one stroke better in the final round with a 77.
The Flyers placed 16th in the tournament shooting, as a team, a 297 in the third round.
“We had rough first and second day,” said men’s head coach Gip Hoagland. “I don’t know if it was nerves or what.”
Coming up next, the men’s golf team is in the Cardinal Collegiate on Monday, Sept. 24 through Tuesday, Sept. 25. The tournament is hosted by the University of Louisville at the Cardinal Club Golf Course in Louisville, Ky.
