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GREENSBORO — The Prokhorova predominance continues with a close second-place performance as she leads North Carolina A&T Women’s golf to a third-place finish in the annual UNCG Collegiate tournament hosted by UNC Greensboro at the par-72-6,011-yard Forest Oaks Country Club.
Ekaterina Prokhorova shot a final round 1-over 73 to add to a two-day, three-round impressive 1-under (73-69-73)—215, securing her fifth straight tournament finishing in the top-5. She was just two strokes behind medalist Chutimon Rujiranan from Wake Forest University, who finished 3-under 213.
Prokhorova’s second-place finish is the highest finish by any Aggie in the eight times A&T has played in the UNCG Collegiate, besting Tori Mouton’s fifth-place finish from a year ago. Before Mouton, the Aggies’ highest finish occurred in 2017 when Jill Harvison finished 10th. No other Aggie in the history of the program has been on this kind of a run.
Meanwhile, the Aggies improved three spots from Monday’s finish to finish in a third-place tie with the Radford Highlanders. The Aggies shot a final-round 293 to finish with a three-round 5-over 299-304-293—896.
Thanks to senior Polina Marina blazing through the third round, finishing with the best Aggie score of the day at 2-under 70, she climbed a staggering 14 places to finish in a four-way tie for eighth. Marina’s 6-over (74-78-70) – 222 helped the Aggies to their best finish in the UNCG Collegiate, topping their fifth-place finish from a year ago.
Tournament host, UNC Greensboro, put together a steady 10-over 298-293-294—885 score to move past UNC Asheville for first place. UNC Asheville had a tougher final round, shooting a 13-over 301 to finish with a 26-over 890.
Prokhorova opened the day with some turbulence, starting on the par-4 347-yard fifth hole with a bogey. She followed that with a couple more bogeys on seven and eight before steadying with a par on the par-4 373-yard ninth.
She made the turn at No. 10 and birdied the par-5 504-yard 11th before adding a stroke with a bogey on No. 13. However, that was her last stumble. She responded by saving a shot on 14, a 340-yard par-4. She carded five straight pars, which included returning to the front nine and parring No. 1. Her final birdie came on the second, 345-yard par-4 before closing the tournament with another pair of pars.
Marina had a terrific round. She started with a par on the seventh and finished the final three holes on the front nine at even par before catching fire on the back nine. She started the back nine with a birdie on the 315-yard par-4 10th and followed with a birdie on the 334-yard, par-4 12th. Her momentum paused briefly with a bogey on 14 but responded with a birdie on the 356-yard par-4 15th and another on the 160-yard par-3 17th. Her remaining seven holes played included six pars and one bogey.
Mouton shot 2-over 74 on Tuesday, climbing 15 spots to finish 29th after posting three birdies. Mouton shot 15-over (77-80-74)—231. Senior Ana Rodriguez added a 25-over (83-82-76—) 241. Freshman Kaathi Gunasegar finished with a 17-over (75-77-81—) 233.
The Aggies will participate in the Fripp Island Intercollegiate hosted by USC Upstate from November 1-3 in St. Helena Island, SC, on the Ocean Creek Golf Course.
