Marshall, Mich. -- A challenging opening round gave way to a weekend of perseverance for the Aquinas College golf teams at the Marshall Masters, where the Saints battled through two days of competition against a strong field.
Competing Oct. 9-10 at Marshall Country Club, both the men's and women's teams experienced the ups and downs that come with tournament golf. While the men worked to maintain their position against a competitive field, the women responded to a difficult first round with a stronger performance Saturday.
Men's Team Results
The Aquinas men's team opened the tournament tied for sixth after shooting 38-over-par in the first round. The Saints found themselves alongside Olivet as they looked to climb the leaderboard on day two.
Aquinas continued to search for consistency Saturday, shooting 44-over in the second round. Their two-round total of 82-over left the Saints tied for sixth with Olivet in the nine-team field.
Wayne State set the tone for the tournament, finishing first at 8-under. Host Albion followed in second at 5-over, while Adrian took third at 21-over.
Men's Individual Results
Although the team struggled to make up ground, individual performances offered signs of progress.
Andrew Kurowski led the Saints, finishing 24th overall with a two-round total of 157. After opening with an 80, Kurowski improved by three strokes Saturday to card a 77.
Benjamin Holloway also showed improvement as the weekend progressed. Holloway opened with an 81 before shaving one stroke off his score Saturday, finishing with a two-round total of 161.
Carsen Miller finished 32nd with a two-round total of 160, while Austin Pitsch placed 34th at 161. AJ Bishop rounded out the lineup in 40th place.
For the Saints, the tournament provided another opportunity to test themselves against a competitive field and identify areas to build on as the fall season continues.
Women's Team Results
The women's team faced its own early challenge, opening the tournament at 77-over-par. With one round remaining, Aquinas had room to improve, and the Saints responded with a much stronger performance Saturday.
The team improved by 25 strokes, finishing the second round at 52-over. That turnaround helped Aquinas secure second place among the five competing teams, finishing at 129-over behind host Albion, which won at 85-over. Albion's B team finished third at 163-over.
Competing shorthanded, the Saints showed their ability to regroup after a difficult start and finish the tournament with a stronger showing.
Women's Individual Results
Jayda Kerns helped lead the charge, delivering the team's best second-round score with a 79. After opening with a 91, Kerns improved by 12 strokes Saturday and finished sixth overall.
Ava Clark also turned in a strong performance, earning third place individually with a two-round total of 164. Clark's finish gave Aquinas a top-three individual result to go along with its runner-up team finish.
Zoey Quinn finished 13th overall, while Ashlyn VanderBaan placed 18th.
Saints Snapshots
- A stronger finish. The Aquinas women responded to a difficult opening round with a 25-stroke improvement Saturday, securing second place at the Marshall Masters.
- Captain's contribution. Senior captain Jayda Kerns led the Saints in the second round with a 79, improving by 12 strokes from Friday.
- Near the top. Ava Clark earned third place individually with a two-round total of 164, helping anchor the women's runner-up finish.
- Steps forward. Andrew Kurowski and Benjamin Holloway both improved their scores Saturday, with Kurowski leading the men at 157 over two rounds.
- Working through the challenge. A shorthanded women's lineup and a competitive men's field tested the Saints, providing both teams with areas to build on before their next tournament.
Coach's Comments
Coach Chance Fry was pleased with the women's second-round response, highlighting Kerns' leadership and Clark's performance while acknowledging the challenge of competing shorthanded.
"I was happy with how the girls bounced back today for a 2nd place finish. Senior Captain, Jayda Kerns lead the way with a 79. Ava Clark had a great tournament. Despite being short handed for this tournament I'm proud of how the girls fought through that for a 2nd place finish."
Up Next
Both Aquinas golf teams will return to the course Oct. 19-20 for the Saints Classic in Notre Dame, Ind. Following a weekend that included second-round improvement and strong individual performances at the Marshall Masters, the Saints will look to build on those positives and finish the fall season strong.
Be sure to visit AQSaints.com for updates, stories, features, results and statistics covering Aquinas men's and women's golf and all other Saints sports.
