By Dylan Lux / The Jambar
Following a fall 2023 season with four tournament victories, the Youngstown State University women’s golf team began its spring season in February.
The team has traveled to states such as Florida and Kentucky and competed in five different tournaments throughout spring.
YSU began the 2024 season in Melbourne, Florida at the Columbia Classic hosted by Columbia University from Feb. 10 to 12.
Sixteen teams competed in the tournament from 10 conferences throughout the U.S.
Out of the competing teams, Youngstown State finished 11th, with a score of 57-over-par as a team. Yale University finished first at the tournament, with a total score of 871, seven-over-par.
In March, YSU returned to Florida to compete in the Howard University Lady Bison Invitational in Gainesville on March 4 and 5.
Twelve teams competed in the Bison Invitational, and Youngstown State finished fourth place at 72-over-par. Tthe invitational’s champion was Georgetown University with a score of 21-over-par.
YSU competed at the Nevel Meade Collegiate hosted by Cleveland State University on March 18 and 19 in Prospect, Kentucky.
Out of 10 teams in the tournament, five were Horizon League teams. Youngstown State finished sixth — in between four other Horizon League opponents.
The University of Detroit Mercy finished ninth while Purdue University Fort Wayne finished eighth. Ahead of the Penguins was Cleveland State in fifth, and Oakland University won the tournament with a 626 total score through two rounds.
To round out the month, the team competed in The Julie hosted by Northern Kentucky University on March 25 and 26.
Six Horizon League teams were featured throughout the 13 total teams competing.
Youngstown State had the highest total of its conference opponents, finishing in eighth. Cleveland State finished sixth, NKU finished fourth, and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay was third.
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis was runner-up at the event, while Fort Wayne finished first with a 606 two-round score.
Youngstown State wrapped up the regular season for its home YSU Spring Invitational on April 7 and 8 in Warren.
The tournament hosted five other universities from Ohio and Pennsylvania.
YSU ended Day One of the tournament in first place with a 302 total, but after a 296 second round score from the University of Akron, the Zips took first place, while YSU was runner-up.
The Horizon League Golf Championships will take place April 20 through 22 in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida. Live scoring will be available after the start of the championships.
