PORT CLINTON – University of Toledo junior Kyleigh Dull (Lakota) won her first collegiate tournament to help the Toledo women’s golf team win the Rocket Classic on Tuesday.
Dull entered the final round in a first-place tie and finished two strokes ahead of Akron’s Daphne van Son with a 10-over par 226 (73-77-76) at the par-72, 5,979-yard Catawba Island Club.
“Kyleigh came out with the right mindset and was in the zone from the beginning of the tournament,” Toledo coach Jenny Coluccio said. “She made some great decisions and recoveries and never really let anything bother her.”
Dull said winning the tournament carried some additional emotional significance for her.
“I was a freshman at Eastern Michigan and the Rocket Classic at Catawba Island was the last time my grandpa watched me play before he passed away with bone cancer,” Dull said.
“I felt his presence with me the past couple days and am glad to win my first tournament on this course since there is such significant meaning to it. It felt a little more special to me.
“I always remember to be grateful for each day, regardless of how good or bad I play. The encouragement of my teammates always helps me through all of it.”
The Rockets shot the best round of the tournament today with a 10-over par 298 to overtake the Zips in the team standings. Toledo posted a team score of 925 to finish 12 shots in front of the Zips, who entered the final round with a five-stroke lead.
“We played a lot better today and the biggest difference was our mindset,” Coluccio said. “It was important for us to come out ready to play no matter what the elements were like on the course. We didn’t do that yesterday, and today showed how good we can be with the right frame of mind.”
Dull was not the only Wood County player to help the team — Bowling Green High School graduate Macy Hanus, a Toledo senior, was tied for ninth, shooting a 235, also finishing in the top 10.
Senior Amelia Lee carded the best round of the tournament, finishing with an even-par 72 today en route to a fourth-place tie at 232. She was joined in the Top 10 by senior Angel Hii (T-4th/232). Junior Yedam Lee (3rd/230) and senior Cheryl Hong (T-9th/235) also finished in the Top 10 competing as individuals.
Toledo will be back in action next week when it travels to Dayton to compete in the Flyer Invitational on Monday-Tuesday, Oct. 16-17.
