The University of Richmond women’s golf team placed fourth of 14 in the RiverTowne Invitational Feb. 17 to 18 in Charleston, S.C.
This tournament is the first time in the 2024-25 season that the Spiders have claimed a top-five spot. The team scored 32-over par, tying them with the University of Cincinnati. Junior Olivia Wilkie led the Spiders with a 2-over par final score. She placed fifth overall.
"Her time has been coming. She's getting more comfortable going low and she will continue to gain more confidence as she does it more,” Head Coach Calle Barlow said. “I'm excited to see her perform the rest of this championship season. I think she's just scratching the surface."
Wilkie struggled on the course in round one, carding a 4-over par. She followed with back-to-back 1-under performances in round two and three, bringing her to the top score for the Spiders. This will be her first top-five finish since placing third at the 2022 Patriot League Championship.
“It was fun to see some low scores,” Wilkie said. “Definitely feeling good.”
Sophomore Maya Beasley and junior Hannah Lydic followed close behind, both making it into the top-20. UR suffered high scores during the first round, but had a strong comeback and topped the field in the two following rounds.
The course was exposed to severe rainfall in the days leading up to the event, leading to muddy conditions and setbacks.
“We were delayed yesterday and a little delayed this morning,” Barlow said.
The team struggled against tough weather, wind and a tricky back nine. Holes 16 through 18 gave the Spiders the most trouble, with several Richmond golfers carding numerous bogies between the three.
“[The holes] were right on the marsh,” Wilkie said. “They were exposed to probably the worst wind that we would see all day. There were also a lot of hazards and penalty areas.”
Up next, the Spiders will play in the NC State Stroke Play Event in Raleigh, N.C. on March 21 to 22.
With the Atlantic 10 Championships just a few tournaments away, every chance to get on the course is vital.
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Contact sports editor Abigail Finney at abigail.finney@richmond.edu
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