ANNAPOLIS, Md. – After starting its season earlier this week, Navy women's golf returns to action on Friday and Saturday as it hosts the Navy Spring Invitational at the Naval Academy Golf Club. Competition will begin on Friday at 8:30 a.m. with Saturday's action starting at 8 a.m.
Fans are allowed to attend the tournament, and spectators will be required to wear a mask at all times and maintain social distancing. Spectators must stay on the cart paths and maintain a distance of at least 20 feet from student-athletes and coaches.
This is Navy's first tournament at its home course since the renovation to the Naval Academy Golf Club was completed last year. The course is a par 72 and plays at 6,124 yards. This weekend's tournament is scheduled for 36 holes with 18 holes each day. Joining the Midshipmen at this weekend's event is Bucknell – who will have two teams in the field, Delaware State and Towson.
Navy's lineup this weekend is set to include
Stephanie Lee,
Mara Hirtle,
Tori Smith,
Christine McDonnell and
Eve Worden while
Angelina Chan and
Jacqueline Cherry will compete as individuals during the tournament.
In their season opener, the Midshipmen finished seventh overall in the field at the Kingsmill Intercollegiate with a score of 96-over par 960. Navy had the third-best score after round one with a 26-over par 314 and had the fourth-lowest final round score of 23-over par 311. However, a 47-over par 335 in the second round moved the Midshipmen down to seventh overall.
Lee paced the Navy lineup earlier this week with a 20-over par 236 to place 13th overall in the 66-player field. She finished the tournament on a strong note with her low round of a 4-over par 76 on Tuesday. Smith and Hirtle finished tied for 20th with a pair of 25-over par 241s. Smith had Navy's lowest round of the tournament with a 3-over par 75 in the third round. McDonnell finished at 26-over par 242 and led Navy after the opening round following a 5-over par 77.
Worden is set to make her season debut for the Midshipmen as she enters the lineup this week. During her freshman season, Worden finished with a 79.5 average in eight rounds at three events with her lowest score coming at the Delaware Invitational at 5-over par 77. Chan is also slated to make her season debut this weekend after making four appearances as a freshman for a 76.7 average over 11 rounds. Chan's career-low also came at the Delaware Invitational with a 1-over par 73. Cherry started her season earlier this week with a 51-over par 267 for Navy.
The last time the Midshipmen hosted a tournament at the Naval Academy Golf Club was in April of 2019 when Navy won its home tournament with a 27-over par 603, which was the lowest 36-hole team tournament score for a women's tournament at the club. The Midshipmen had three individuals within the top four with McDonnell finishing second overall with an even-par 144.
Following action this weekend, Navy returns to action next Saturday and Sunday for The Women's Intercollegiate in Grasonville, Md., hosted by Towson at Prospect Bay Country Club.
