The women’s golf team concluded their regular season play on April 6 and 7, finishing in fifth place at the Rutgers Invitational in Piscataway, N.J. Despite the team’s placement, the Pioneers had three players finish in the top 20 in individual play.
The team’s standouting performance came from senior Chantal El Chaib, who finished with a three round total of 220. This score was good for fourth place overall, sitting at just seven over par across three rounds.
“I just came off a win the previous weekend, so I was just feeling much more confident,” said El Chaib. “I just told myself to just hit the ball and play like myself, and it worked well.”
El Chaib’s performance was acknowledged as she received her second Northeastern Conference (NEC) Player of the Week award in the month of April. As a junior in 2023, El Chaib was named All-NEC First Team, NEC Golfer of the Year, and won the NEC Individual Championships.
“She has been building all spring. Her game is trending in the right direction and we are expecting big things at the NEC Championship,” said Head Coach Matthew McGreevy.
Source: Instagram, @sacredheartwgolf
The Pioneer’s other top 20 finishers at the Rutgers Invitational were junior Maya Robilio and senior Margot Rouquette. Across three rounds, Robilio shot 229 for 16 over par, tying her for 16 place. Rouquette finished 15 over par (228 overall), placing her tied for 13.
“I was pretty happy with how I handled myself on Saturday, I just wish I had a better final day on Sunday,” said Rouquette.
This invitational closed the Pioneer’s regular season and the last season of collegiate play for seniors Chaib and Rouquette, along with Kerry Kline, Mollie Lewis and graduate student Kailee Welch. The players and coaches reflect on the impact this graduating class left on the team over the past four years.
“It has been nice. Their senior leadership and being able to watch them grow as they did throughout the four years,” said McGreevy. “Just knowing that I can count on them as well as their teammates can count on them to always produce.”
SHU women’s golf has been a force within the NEC in the recent past, winning back-to-back championships.
This season, the Pioneers look to continue this streak. The women finished in either first or second place in six different events this season, including their own hosted events: the SHU Fall Classic and the SHU Spring Break Invitational.
The team looks to cap off yet another winning season with a chance at a three-peat NEC Championship.
SHU will travel to Pine Mountain, Ga. to play for the championship title from April 19-21. If they succeed, the Pioneers will have a chance at competing in regionals.
“We have had a good spring,” said McGreevy. “We are going in the right direction and I think everyone is focused. We all have a common goal to bring home a third consecutive conference championship.”
