Ball State University Athletics
Gallagher Ties for 8th at Rio Verde Collegiate Invitational
February 25, 2024 | Women's Golf
RIO VERDE, Ariz. - - Another even-par round helped Ball State sophomore women's golfer Sarah Gallagher claim her third collegiate top-10 finish as she closed play in the Rio Verde Collegiate Invitational with a three-day score of 215 (-1) to tie for eighth among the field of 104 golfers.
Gallagher, who opened with a 71 (-1) Friday and collected scores of 72 (E) on Saturday and Sunday, was the top golfer from the Mid-American Conference in a field that featured seven league schools and 39 conference student-athletes. Her effort was just four strokes behind tournament winner Ali Schrock of Illinois State who finished at 211 (-5).
"It was great to see Sarah put together a really strong performance," head coach Cameron Andry said. "She works at such a high rate and is a fantastic competitor, so it was nice to see her put it all together for a top-ten finish."
Overall, Gallagher finished play on the 6,024-yard, 72-par Quail Run Course at the Rio Verde Country Club with eight birdies, including three more on the final day of competition. She was one of nine golfers to record an eagle in the tournament hosted by Western Michigan and one of just 14 golfers not to card a score worse than a bogey.
In addition, Gallagher's 215 was the lowest 54-hole score of her collegiate career, taking four strokes off the 219 she shot when she placed sixth at the 2022 Brittany Kelly Cardinal Classic.
Freshman JJ Gregston followed her Saturday 72 (E) with another solid round, earning birdies on two of her final four holes to finish the day at 74 (+2). She also opened the day with a birdie on the 12th hole to tie Gallagher for the team lead with eight over the 54 holes of competition. The effort helped Gregston finish tied for 34th at 222 (+6).
"JJ is so close to breaking through and posting some low scores," Andry added. "She hit some fantastic shots this week, so now she just needs to tighten up the loose ends of her game. I'm really pleased with her progress. I think her time is coming soon."
The final day also saw sophomore Madelin Boyd register her lowest round of the tournament, entering the clubhouse at 74 (+2). The effort helped her climb 12 spots up the leaderboard into a tie for 67th at 231 (+15). Boyd's final round included 14 pars and a birdie on the par-3 16th.
Rounding out Ball State's countable golfers Sunday was sophomore Jasmine Driscoll with a 79 (+7), which included birdies on holes six, 11, and 18. She finished the tournament with a score of 234 (+18) to tie for 78th.
In the team standings, the Cardinals tied for 14th overall at 902 (+38). BSU's final round matched its total from Saturday at 299, five strokes better than its Friday 304. Cal Baptist won the event at 865 (+1).
"As a team, this was a frustrating weekend," Andry said. "We just made too many mistakes and got out of position too often to keep up with the low scoring from most of the field. With an inexperienced team, weeks like this happen, but we have to make sure we don't waste it by not learning from it. We'll reflect and get back to work."
Next up for the Ball State women's golf team is the Puerto Rico Classic, which the Cardinals will host March 5-7 on the Palmas Del Mar Golf Club – Flamboyan Course at the Wyndham Palmas Golf & Beach Resort in Humacao, Puerto Rico.
BALL STATE INDIVIDUAL SCORES
T-8th - Sarah Gallagher - 215 (-1): 71-72-72
T-34th - JJ Gregston - 222 (+6): 76-72-74
T-67th - Madelin Boyd - 231 (+15): 78-79-74
T-78th - Jasmine Driscoll - 234 (+18):79-76-79
99th - Sabrina Langerak - 251 (+35): 84-85-82
TEAM RANKINGS
1st - Cal Baptist - 865 (+1): 292-284-291
2nd - Xavier - 870 (+6): 291-284-295
Illinois State - 870 (+6): 296-284-290
4th - Kennesaw State - 878 (+14): 299-286-293
5th - Butler - 879 (+15): 298-290-291
- -
T-14th - Ball State - 902 (+38): 304-299-299
Gallagher, who opened with a 71 (-1) Friday and collected scores of 72 (E) on Saturday and Sunday, was the top golfer from the Mid-American Conference in a field that featured seven league schools and 39 conference student-athletes. Her effort was just four strokes behind tournament winner Ali Schrock of Illinois State who finished at 211 (-5).
"It was great to see Sarah put together a really strong performance," head coach Cameron Andry said. "She works at such a high rate and is a fantastic competitor, so it was nice to see her put it all together for a top-ten finish."
Overall, Gallagher finished play on the 6,024-yard, 72-par Quail Run Course at the Rio Verde Country Club with eight birdies, including three more on the final day of competition. She was one of nine golfers to record an eagle in the tournament hosted by Western Michigan and one of just 14 golfers not to card a score worse than a bogey.
In addition, Gallagher's 215 was the lowest 54-hole score of her collegiate career, taking four strokes off the 219 she shot when she placed sixth at the 2022 Brittany Kelly Cardinal Classic.
Freshman JJ Gregston followed her Saturday 72 (E) with another solid round, earning birdies on two of her final four holes to finish the day at 74 (+2). She also opened the day with a birdie on the 12th hole to tie Gallagher for the team lead with eight over the 54 holes of competition. The effort helped Gregston finish tied for 34th at 222 (+6).
"JJ is so close to breaking through and posting some low scores," Andry added. "She hit some fantastic shots this week, so now she just needs to tighten up the loose ends of her game. I'm really pleased with her progress. I think her time is coming soon."
The final day also saw sophomore Madelin Boyd register her lowest round of the tournament, entering the clubhouse at 74 (+2). The effort helped her climb 12 spots up the leaderboard into a tie for 67th at 231 (+15). Boyd's final round included 14 pars and a birdie on the par-3 16th.
Rounding out Ball State's countable golfers Sunday was sophomore Jasmine Driscoll with a 79 (+7), which included birdies on holes six, 11, and 18. She finished the tournament with a score of 234 (+18) to tie for 78th.
In the team standings, the Cardinals tied for 14th overall at 902 (+38). BSU's final round matched its total from Saturday at 299, five strokes better than its Friday 304. Cal Baptist won the event at 865 (+1).
"As a team, this was a frustrating weekend," Andry said. "We just made too many mistakes and got out of position too often to keep up with the low scoring from most of the field. With an inexperienced team, weeks like this happen, but we have to make sure we don't waste it by not learning from it. We'll reflect and get back to work."
Next up for the Ball State women's golf team is the Puerto Rico Classic, which the Cardinals will host March 5-7 on the Palmas Del Mar Golf Club – Flamboyan Course at the Wyndham Palmas Golf & Beach Resort in Humacao, Puerto Rico.
BALL STATE INDIVIDUAL SCORES
T-8th - Sarah Gallagher - 215 (-1): 71-72-72
T-34th - JJ Gregston - 222 (+6): 76-72-74
T-67th - Madelin Boyd - 231 (+15): 78-79-74
T-78th - Jasmine Driscoll - 234 (+18):79-76-79
99th - Sabrina Langerak - 251 (+35): 84-85-82
TEAM RANKINGS
1st - Cal Baptist - 865 (+1): 292-284-291
2nd - Xavier - 870 (+6): 291-284-295
Illinois State - 870 (+6): 296-284-290
4th - Kennesaw State - 878 (+14): 299-286-293
5th - Butler - 879 (+15): 298-290-291
- -
T-14th - Ball State - 902 (+38): 304-299-299
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
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