Photo by: Brian Alden
Women's Golf Set to Host the Moon Golf Invitational
February 13, 2021 | Women's Golf
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville women's golf team opens its season on Sunday, Feb.14 as the host of the fourth-annual Moon Golf Invitational. The tournament will be held on the par 72, 6279-yard course at the Doran Golf Club in Melbourne, Fla.
In addition to Louisville, the 18-team field includes six teams, No.2 South Carolina, No.3 LSU, No.5 Auburn, No.7 Arkansas, No.8 Florida, and No.9 Oklahoma, ranked in the top ten of the latest Top 25 GolfStat rankings. No.16 Alabama, Augusta, Coastal Carolina, Florida Gulf Coast, Florida State, Illinois, Miami, North Carolina, FAU, and Virginia round out the rest of the participants.
Sunday marks head coach Whitney Young's second season at the helm. Despite having her first season cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Young continued to build the program into one of the most consistent in the conference. Competing in only six events, Louisville posted a trio of top-three finishes, including the tournament title at the Cardinal Cup - her first win as head coach.
The Cardinals were playing some of their best golf before last season's cancellation, closing out the spring portion of the schedule with three-straight top-five finishes. Four Cardinals finished in the top 15 of last year's Moon Golf Invitational, led by sophomore Hana Ryskova who tied for sixth at 3-under-par.
Louisville will travel seven players to the tournament. Two golfers will be designated as individuals and the top four cards of the five-player lineup after each round will count toward the overall team score. This year's team will feature a combination of returning talent and exciting newcomers, which will be reflected on this weekend's card.
Lauren Hartlage, a graduate student from Elizabethtown, Ky., is the most decorated of the returning Cardinals. Hartlage became the first golfer in school history to average under-par for an entire season, setting the program single-season record with a 71.53 stroke average. She finished in the top-10 in four of six events, including closing the spring with a 10th-place showing at last year's invitational.
Margot Bechadergue returns for her senior year after totaling a career-high 74.50 scoring average last season. She carded her season-best round of 68 in this tournament last year, earning a 14th place finish in Melbourne.
Returning for her second season, Ryskova looks to build upon an impressive freshman campaign where she finished second on the team with a 72.76 scoring average over 17 rounds. She posted two top-10 cards, including a tie for third at last season's Cardinal Cup.
Junior Mairead Martin appeared in all six events last season. Her 73.29 scoring average ranked third on the team. She registered one top-five finish and one top-15 finish, highlighted by a career-best second place at the Cardinal Cup.
Agustina Gomez Cisterna rounds out the Louisville lineup. The Buenos Aires, Argentina native appeared in three events and closed out the spring with a season-best card of 10-over par.
The freshman pair of Carly Haines and Molly Lyne will be competing as individuals. This weekend will mark the college debuts for both newcomers after all fall events were cancelled.
Louisville will be paired with Arkansas and LSU for Sunday's opening round. The trio will be the first group teeing off on hole one at 8:00 a.m. ET, followed by two other groups. The rest of the participants will tee off from hole 10 following the same shotgun format. The second and third rounds will follow on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, at 8:00 a.m.
Live scoring throughout the tournament will be available on GolfStat.com.
In addition to Louisville, the 18-team field includes six teams, No.2 South Carolina, No.3 LSU, No.5 Auburn, No.7 Arkansas, No.8 Florida, and No.9 Oklahoma, ranked in the top ten of the latest Top 25 GolfStat rankings. No.16 Alabama, Augusta, Coastal Carolina, Florida Gulf Coast, Florida State, Illinois, Miami, North Carolina, FAU, and Virginia round out the rest of the participants.
Sunday marks head coach Whitney Young's second season at the helm. Despite having her first season cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Young continued to build the program into one of the most consistent in the conference. Competing in only six events, Louisville posted a trio of top-three finishes, including the tournament title at the Cardinal Cup - her first win as head coach.
The Cardinals were playing some of their best golf before last season's cancellation, closing out the spring portion of the schedule with three-straight top-five finishes. Four Cardinals finished in the top 15 of last year's Moon Golf Invitational, led by sophomore Hana Ryskova who tied for sixth at 3-under-par.
Louisville will travel seven players to the tournament. Two golfers will be designated as individuals and the top four cards of the five-player lineup after each round will count toward the overall team score. This year's team will feature a combination of returning talent and exciting newcomers, which will be reflected on this weekend's card.
Lauren Hartlage, a graduate student from Elizabethtown, Ky., is the most decorated of the returning Cardinals. Hartlage became the first golfer in school history to average under-par for an entire season, setting the program single-season record with a 71.53 stroke average. She finished in the top-10 in four of six events, including closing the spring with a 10th-place showing at last year's invitational.
Margot Bechadergue returns for her senior year after totaling a career-high 74.50 scoring average last season. She carded her season-best round of 68 in this tournament last year, earning a 14th place finish in Melbourne.
Returning for her second season, Ryskova looks to build upon an impressive freshman campaign where she finished second on the team with a 72.76 scoring average over 17 rounds. She posted two top-10 cards, including a tie for third at last season's Cardinal Cup.
Junior Mairead Martin appeared in all six events last season. Her 73.29 scoring average ranked third on the team. She registered one top-five finish and one top-15 finish, highlighted by a career-best second place at the Cardinal Cup.
Agustina Gomez Cisterna rounds out the Louisville lineup. The Buenos Aires, Argentina native appeared in three events and closed out the spring with a season-best card of 10-over par.
The freshman pair of Carly Haines and Molly Lyne will be competing as individuals. This weekend will mark the college debuts for both newcomers after all fall events were cancelled.
Louisville will be paired with Arkansas and LSU for Sunday's opening round. The trio will be the first group teeing off on hole one at 8:00 a.m. ET, followed by two other groups. The rest of the participants will tee off from hole 10 following the same shotgun format. The second and third rounds will follow on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, at 8:00 a.m.
Live scoring throughout the tournament will be available on GolfStat.com.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
Whitney Young Women's Golf Media Day Press Conference 2.12.25
Friday, May 16
Women's Golf Media Day 2023
Tuesday, January 24
Mental Health Awareness Month Feature
Friday, May 27
A Matter of Perspective: Lauren Thibodeau
Monday, February 28
