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CALLAWASSIE ISLAND, S.C. - The Seton Hall women' golf team will look to become the first program in school history to win four straight BIG EAST titles this weekend as it returns to the friendly confines of Callawassie Island Golf Club for three rounds of the conference's marquee event, April 21-23.
In six years of existence, the Pirates have gone from fledgling up-start to a championship dynasty. Seton Hall has won the last three BIG EAST Conference championships, proving it can win as both the underdog and the favorite. Last year, The Hall was ranked fourth in the six-team field, but shocked top-seeded Georgetown with a 12-stroke victory. This weekend, The Hall, playing as the No. 3 seed, will look to surprise No. 1 Georgetown and No. 2 St. John's again.
"We're ready," said head coach Sara Doell. "This is a much different team than in the past, considering its youth. However, we've accomplished a lot in a short period of time with four, top-3 finishes, including a team title at William & Mary. We've been a little inconsistent at times this year, but that's normal with such a young team. I love the potential we have, and can't wait to begin this event."
With the maturation of juniors Cassie Pantelas (Canton, Ohio) and Macky Fouse (Aliquippa, Pa.), and the emergence of newcomers Maddie Sager (Phoenixville, Pa.), Sammie Staudt (Coatesville, Pa.) and Lizzie Win (Sylvania, Ohio), the Pirates were able to shave nearly four strokes off last year's scoring average.
Pantelas emerged from the shadows of a trio of Seton Hall seniors last year as the team captain and vocal leader in 2017. Recently named to her second straight All-BIG EAST Team, she brings the most experience of any Pirate into this weekend's championship.
"Mentally, we're a really strong team," Pantelas said. "We've taken the proper approach to tournaments all year long, and we're in a good place heading to Callawassie this weekend. We have five players in our lineup that are capable of winning any tournament. I look forward to seeing who rises to the occasion."
Tourment Details:
2017 BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP
Host: BIG EAST Conference
Location: Okatie, S.C.
Course: Callawassie Island Golf Club (Dogwood & Magnolia)
Course Vitals: Par-72, 6,166 yards
Dates: April 10-11, 2017, Three Rounds
Championship Format:
Six team, 54-hole, stroke play Championship. Teams compete in groups of three. The event is conducted over four days with each team's five members playing a practice round of 18 holes on day one, one 18-hole round on days two, three and four.
The Course:
The club features three nine-hole courses. The competition will play the first nine holes on the Dogwood Course and the second nine on the Magnolia Course. Designing Callawassie Island's award-winning championship 27-hole course, Tom Fazio took advantage of the island's natural beauty to create a juxtaposition of visual drama and superb playability. Magnificent live oaks and magnolias, as well as freshwater ponds and the surrounding saltwater marsh, come into play on most holes. Inspiring vistas and abundant wildlife make nature part of the golf experience.
The Field:
For the BIG EAST Championship, the field is limited to only the six women's golf teams of the conference. This includes (in order of Golfstat ranking): Georgetown, St. John's, Seton Hall, Xavier, Butler and Creighton.
The Lineup:
Seton Hall will start the following golfers in Callawassie Island, in order as listed:
- Cassie Pantelas, Junior
- Lizzie Win, Freshman
- Maddie Sager, Freshman
- Sammie Staudt, Freshman
- Macky Fouse, Junior
Sager shot a 4-over-par, 76, in Tuesday's final round to lift the Pirates to a 10th place finish at the Hoya Invitational on April 11.
Sager finished the tournament as the top Pirate performer with a 13-over-par, 78-75-76-229 to tie for 21st place among 88 individual golfers. It's the third time in four tournaments this spring that Sager has had the low score for the Pirates.
Collectively, the Pirates shot an identical score as their second round score in round three, a 24-over-par, 312. The Pirates were able to climb one spot in the final standings to 10th place overall with a 79-over-par, 319-312-312-943.
Last Time at BIG EAST Championship:
Three Pirates shot under 80 in Sunday's final round to lift the Pirates to their third straight BIG EAST Conference championship last spring. Seton Hall shot a 26-over-par, 314, five shots better than its closest opponent, Georgetown in the final round. Midway through the round, the Hoyas erased the Pirates' seven-shot lead entering the day and took a slim lead. The Hall however, bounced back late and eventually won the tournament by 12 strokes over the Hoyas.
Pantelas and Karlie Zabrosky finished the tournament at 15-over-par to tie for fourth among all individual golfers and were named to the All-Tournament Team. For the tournament, Pantelas shot a 15-over-par, 80-73-78-231. Xavier's Shane Crutchfield won the individual title at 6-over-par.
Tee Times:
Seton Hall will be paired with golfers from No. 1 Georgetown and No. 2 St. John's in Friday's first round. Fouse will get the Pirates started at 8:50 a.m. off the first tee of the Dogwood course. Each Pirate will follow in increments of 10 minutes thereafter.
Results:
Golfstat.com will provide live scoring of the event. Complete results will also be available after each round's completion at www.SHUpirates.com.
http://www.shupirates.com/news/2017...ates-seek-fourth-straight-big-east-title.aspx
