Hinson-Tolchard takes third for Cowgirls in Illini Women’s Invitational
MEDINAH, Ill. —- Maddison Hinson-Tolchard led the way this week for Oklahoma State women’s golf as she finished third individually in the Illini Women’s Invitational at Medinah Country Club on Tuesday after a career-best 54-hole score of 12-under 204.
The mark ranked eighth in program history, only three strokes back of the 54-hole school record of 201, set by Maja Stark in the 2020-2021 season. With the performance, Hinson-Tolchard also locked up her ninth career top-10 finish and her second of the season.
In addition, Hinson-Tolchard led the field in par-4 scoring, shooting 8-under on such holes. She also finished fifth in total birdies, sinking 16 in the three rounds.
“This course was really focused on good wedge play and I feel like I was really dialed in on that part of my game this tournament,” she said. “Although the course played somewhat short it was protected by the greens. They put the pins in some funky spots, but I played smart and to my strengths and it paid off.”
The Cowgirls finished in ninth place as a team at the Illini Women’s Invitational with a team score of 13-under. Oklahoma State was consistent throughout the week, leading the field with 186 pars.
Rina Tatematsu improved each outing, shooting rounds of 72-71-70-213 to finish tied for 26th at 3-under. Her 54-hole score was her best since the Jim West Challenge in October of 2021.
Han-Hsuan Yu played consistently in all three rounds, shooting even-par each time, to end the week in a tie for 40th.
Hailey Jones and Thitaporn Saithip rounded out the Cowgirls lineup in Medinah, finishing in ties for 58th and 65th, respectively.
Cecilie Leth-Nissen also competed at Medinah Country Club as an individual, carding the best 54-hole score of her short career with a 2-over 218.
“It was great see Maddy play as well as she did this week,” head coach Greg Robertson said. “She has been working hard, and her golf game has looked solid all fall. It was only a matter of time before she contended for an individual win. She’s a strong competitor and is a great example of what we like to see from our players here at Oklahoma State.”
Meanwhile at the Dale McNamara Invitational in Broken Arrow, Angelica Pfefferkorn led the trio of Cowgirl individuals as she finished in a tie for 42nd. Clean play led her to 35 pars, only four behind the leader.
Emma Whitaker finished tied for 69th after improving her score in each round, while Ashton Begley finished in 75th.
The Cowgirls will be back in action October 23-24 for the Jim West Challenge at Kissing Tree Golf Club in San Marcos, Texas. In last season’s rendition of the event, Oklahoma State won the team title, defeating the field by seven strokes.