WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The Navy women's golf team started its 2018-19 season with a seventh-place finish at the William & Mary Fall Invitational on the River Course at Kingsmill Resort.
 
Over the two-day, three-round event, the Midshipmen compiled a total score of 55-over par 919 to place seventh in the field of 12 teams. Navy was tied for seventh after the first and second rounds and then finished in seventh place outright.
 
The Midshipmen posted their best team score in the second round on Sunday with a 16-over par 304. After averaging just over 314 per round last season, Navy was below that mark in each of the three rounds with a 17-over par 305 in the opening round and a 22-over par 310 in the final round on Monday.

"It was exciting to see this team compete for the first time," said associate head coach Kelly Gerlach Hovland. "This is the most talented roster we have had and having all five players shoot in the 70s during the final round proves how deep we are. While we did not have the charge we were hoping for today, it was a great opportunity to see where we are at right now and where I think we can end up come April." 
 
Christine McDonnell (So., Suwanee, Ga.) paced the Mids at the tournament with a three-round score of 9-over par 225. McDonnell started strong with an even-par 72 during the first round but followed with back-to-back rounds over par (75-78) to finish tied for 13th in a field of 73 golfers.
 
Morgan Frazier (Jr., Mechanicsburg, Pa.) finished one-shot back of McDonnell in a tie for 17th at 10-over par 226. On the par 72, 6,034-yard course, Frazier fired her best round of 1-over par 73 in the second round. The junior shot a 4-over par 76 in the first round and then a 5-over par 77 on Monday. Frazier was tied for second in par-three scoring after going 1-under par throughout the tournament.
 
Amelia Root (Fr., Jacksonville, Fla.) was one of six golfers to finish the three rounds at 19-over par 235, which was tied for 32nd overall. Root posted a 5-over par 77 in the first round and then proceed to card two-straight 7-over par 79s to end the tournament to finish her first career tournament.
 
Shannon Gould (Fr., O'Fallon, Mo.) completed her first collegiate tournament in a tie for 39th place with a two-day score of 21-over par 237. Gould's first round of college golf was a 9-over par 81. However, she knocked four shots off her second-round score to end day one with a 5-over par 77. To finish off the invitational, Gould recorded a 7-over par 79.
 
Elizabeth Park (So., San Diego, Calif.) capped off the Midshipmen's lineup tied for 51st. Throughout the three rounds, Park compiled a 27-over par 243. Following two rounds in the 80s (80-87), she rebounded with a 4-over par 76 in the third round. Park's 76 on Monday was the lowest round of the day for Navy. Park was one of four golfers in the field to record an eagle at the tournament.
 
Marshall won the team title at the event with a team score of 27-over par 891. The Thundering Herd finished one shot ahead of defending Patriot League Champions, Richmond -- who posted a 28-over par 892. Also representing the Patriot League was Boston University in fourth (906) and Bucknell in 11th (943).
 
Shelby Brauckmuller of Marshall won medalist honors with three rounds under par (68-71-71) to finish at 6-under par 210. James Madison's Lauren Comegys was second (214) and Sophie DiPetrillo of Richmond was third (217).
 
Navy is off this coming weekend before traveling to State College, Pa., to take part in the Nittany Lion Invitational on Sept. 22 and 23.