By Cecelia Chase / The Jambar
The Youngstown State University women’s golf team recorded a runner-up performance at the University of Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish Classic on Sept. 28 at Warren Golf Course in South Bend, Indiana.
The Penguins posted a 36-hole team score of 607, to finish second behind Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish claimed the team title with a 583, while Central Michigan University trailed the Penguins by 23 strokes at 630.
To lead Youngstown State, senior Maddi Shoults fired a 68 — the same as her career low — while she secured third place individually. Shoults opened with a 76 before staging a comeback, to record six birdies in the second round.
Her finish included a stretch of seven-straight holes of par or better, and pushed her to an even-par 144 overall. The third-place finish marked her best result of the season.
Sophomore Sofia Perez Escarcena continued her steady play with a tie for fourth at 150. After an opening-round 78, she responded with a 72 in Round Two, highlighted by four birdies and 10 pars. Perez Escarcena also carded the team’s only eagle of the tournament.
Junior Neeranuch Prajunpanich rounded out the Penguins top-10 presence, and finished tied for 10th overall at 155. She posted a team-best 75 in the opening round, and held steady on the front nine before she ran into trouble on the back.
The Penguins also benefitted from contributions by sophomore Valentina Peña Anaya and redshirt freshman Maureen Burns, who both competed as individuals and tied for 31st with a score of 163.
As a team, Youngstown State showed resilience after a 310 in the morning round. The Penguins improved by 13 shots in the afternoon with a 297, the second-lowest team round of the day behind Notre Dame.
The Penguins wrap up the fall portion of their 2025-26 schedule at the Delaware Fall Invitation on Oct. 18-19 at Rehoboth Beach Country Club in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
