Moran, Buchholtz Shine for Scots at Spring Opener

MT. GILEAD, N.C. – Senior Maddie Moran and first-year Sarah Buchholtz matched or exceeded their collegiate-bests to headline The College of Wooster women's golf team's spring opener, which took place Monday and Tuesday at the Jack Ingram/Pfeiffer University Women's Spring Invitational. The Fighting Scots opened with a 350 and closed with a 365 to finish at 715 and in fourth-place in the six-team field.

Senior Ally Siewert took sixth after back-to-back 82s. Siewert bounced back to even par in round one with a birdie on the par-4, 358-yard seventh hole. That was the second birdie of the round for Siewert, whose first came at the par-5, 433-yard second hole. Siewert turned at 1-over-par on Monday. Siewert logged eight pars on Tuesday and played the par-3 holes at 1-over-par.  

Sophomore Morgan Erdmann was next, tying for 18th at 180. Erdmann's best day was Monday, where she opened with five pars on the first 10 holes. Erdmann delivered a strong closing stretch, with pars on the par-3, 140-yard 17th hole and the par-4, 440-yard closing hole. Erdmann's strong Monday finish carried over to Tuesday's start, as the sophomore logged pars on four of the opening six holes.

Moran opened the spring with a 90, tying her collegiate-best. She tied for 28th at 185 after a 95 on Tuesday. The senior drained a birdie on the par-4, 288-yard 14th hole on Monday. The senior got on track on her way to tying the collegiate-low with a par on the par-3, 160-yard eighth hole and had another par on the par-4, 319-yard 16th hole. On Tuesday, Moran strung together three consecutive pars, spanning holes 12 through 14. She had a pair of pars on par-3 holes for the day.

Sophomore Paige Nicely tied for 31st with a 186. Nicely opened with a 92 and closed with a 94. The sophomore's best stretch came on Monday's back nine, where she started with a trio of pars, including on the challenging, par-5, 452-yard 10th hole. Nicely ended the tournament with a trio of pars on Tuesday's back nine, including No. 18.

Buchholtz, who was debuting in Wooster's lineup, drained the Scots' lone birdie of round two. That came on the par-4, 282-yard third hole. The first-year knocked in a par on No. 16 and played eight of the holes at bogey or better en route to the collegiate-best of 100. Buchholtz shot a 204 to finish in 34th.

Sophomore Serena Grenga competed as an individual. Grenga placed 38th at 232. The sophomore nearly holed out for birdie on the par-3, 160-yard eighth hole on Monday and overall, had a trio of pars on par-3 holes for the tournament.

Mount Saint Joseph University led the way with a 640. The Lions' Aly Haverstraw was the medalist with a 6-over-par 150.

Wooster has a quick turnaround after heading back north, as the Scots are back in action at the University of Mount Union Spring Invitational, which starts on Saturday, March 29.