NC State
Daniel Island Invitational
Women’s Golf Wins for First Time Since 2017; Ties Program 54-Hole Record at Daniel Island Invitational
2/25/2025 3:33:00 PM | Women's Golf
DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. - The NC State women's golf team earned its first win in nearly eight years, finishing at 17-under 847 (280-282-285) to lead the field at the Daniel Island Invitational in Daniel Island, South Carolina. That 54-hole score matched a program record previously set at the 2023 ICON Invitational.
This tournament win is the first for NC State women's golf head coach Darby Sligh, as well as the first for the program since 2017 when the Pack won the Ocean Course Invitational.
NC State led the field after each round and pushed ahead to beat host College of Charleston by three strokes. Marie Eline Madsen led the Pack and finished in second place with an 11-under 205 (67-66-72) and Vania Simont finished with a season-low 6-under 210 (69-70-71).
Madsen was on fire this weekend with an 11-under 205, finishing at par or under in all three rounds. The Denmark native's 205 is the second lowest score in school history and a freshman 54-hole record. Madsen logged a 5-under 67 in the first round and followed that up with a 6-under 66 in the second. In the tournament, she finished with the second most birdies (16) and second best par 5s average (4.58), as well as the third best par 4s average (3.83) among 75 golfers. She now has seven rounds in the 60s and 12 rounds at par or better this season.
Simont finished with a 6-under 210 (69-70-71) to finish in fifth for her first career top five finish. The Mexico City, Mexico native started out the tournament with a 3-under 69 behind four birdies and 13 pars with one just bogey. Her 2-under 70 in the second round was done behind three birdies, 14 pars and one bogey. The 69 is her fifth career round in the 60s. Simont's par 4s average (3.90) was the sixth best in the tournament field.
Lauren Olivares Leon was solid all week to finish with a 2-under 214 (72-72-70) to log 11th. Her 2-under 70 in the third round jumped her up four spots on the leaderboard, doing so behind four birdies, 12 pars and just two bogeys. She finished tied for second in par 4s (4.58) in the field. Olivares Leon now has 10 rounds at par or under and 48 in her career.
Jaclyn Kenzel had the best performance of her collegiate career, finishing with a 2-over 218 (72-74-72) to log a tie for 15th. The graduate finished with eight birdies, 37 pars, eight bogeys and a double bogey.
Caitlin Whitehead finished in a tie for 52nd with a 15-over 231 (74-80-77). She finished with four birdies, 35 pars, 13 bogeys and two double bogeys. Lea Ludwig played as an individual and wrapped up the tournament with a career-high tie for 36th place. She finished with a 7-over 223 (75-73-75), a career-low 54 hole score.
The Pack had the second best par 3s average (3.12), par 4s average (3.99) and par 5s average (4.87) with the second most birdies (49) in the field.
TEAM LEADERBOARD
1 - No. 45 NC State - 280-282-285=847 (-17)
2 - No. 48 College of Charleston - 279-286-285=850 (-14)
3 - Charlotte - 283-290-292=865 (+1)
4 - No. 37 Tennessee - 285-287-295=867 (+3)
5 - No. 47 Campbell - 294-297-283=874 (+10)
6 - Yale - 285-295-300=878 (+12)
7 - No. 46 Virginia Tech - 300-294-288=882 (+14)
T8 - Oral Roberts - 302-293-298=893 (+29)
T8 - James Madison - 301-299-293=893 (+29)
10 - Georgetown - 295-296-304=895 (+31)
T11 - Charleston Southern - 296-295-305=896 (+32)
T11 - Georgia State - 310-294-292=896 (+32)
13 - Coastal Carolina - 306-296-295=897 (+33)
14 - Eastern Michigan - 307-302-292=302 (+38)
PLAYER LEADERBOARD
2 - Marie Eline Madsen - 67-66-72=205 (-11)
5 - Vania Simont - 69-70-71=210 (-6)
11 - Lauren Olivares Leon - 72-72-70=214 (-2)
T15 - Jaclyn Kenzel - 72-74-72=218 (+2)
T36 - Lea Ludwig* - 75-73-75=223 (+7)
T52 - Caitlin Whitehead - 74-80-77=231 (+15)
*- Competed as an individual
UPCOMING
The Pack will play at the Briar's Creek Invitational at the Club at Briar's Creek in John's Island, South Carolina from March 10-11.
Players Mentioned
