North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
Cougar Classic
Women’s Golf Opens Season at Cougar Classic
9/8/2024 3:39:00 PM | Women's Golf
CHARLESTON, S.C. - The NC State women's golf team will commence the 2024-25 season by playing at the Cougar Classic at Yeamans Hall Club in Hanahan, South Carolina. NC State will play three rounds of stroke play on Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 9-10, in the tournament hosted by the College of Charleston. The team will have an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start and play 36 holes on Monday.
This year marks the fourth straight time the Pack will open up the season at the Cougar Classic. The Pack is one of 17 teams in the field, which includes four other ACC schools (Boston College, Miami, SMU and Virginia Tech). Yeamans Club is a 71-par, 6,269-yard course.
In last year's Cougar Classic, NC State started the year by placing 13th, led by Lauren Olivares Leon, who broke the NCAA record for a single-round score with a 60 in the first round. Olivares' 13-under 200 (60-72-68) was good for third out of 96 golfer.
Olivares Leon, who is now a senior, is No. 1 in the lineup. She was tabbed to the All-ACC Women's Golf Team last season and broke the single season scoring average record at 72.18 with 13 rounds at par or better and six rounds in the 60s as a junior. Olivares Leon played in the NCAA Bermuda Run Regional and is ranked No. 66 in the WAGR.
Vania Simont is at the No. 2 spot and is coming into her junior year having played in 20 tournaments for 56 rounds. She logged a 74.80 scoring average with six rounds at par or better and two top 20 finishes as a sophomore. In her rookie season, Simont played in all 11 tournaments to compile a 73.55 scoring average, which is the eighth best in program history.
Lea Ludwig will play at the No. 3 spot, making her second lineup at NC State. As a freshman last season, Ludwig played in two tournaments to log a 77.83 scoring average and tally her best round of 74 in the third round of the Landfall Tradition. Ludwig won the 2022 Austrian Juniors Golf Tour event.
Marie Eline Madsen, playing at No. 4, is appearing in her first collegiate tournament and has enjoyed a stellar amateur career with two wins and 15 top 10 finishes. She is coming off making the semifinals of match play at the 2024 R&A Women's Amateur Championship and was the leading individual in stroke play at the European Ladies Team Championship with Denmark.
Jaclyn Kenzel is a graduate student and will wrap up the lineup at No. 5. She appeared in the lineup in five tournaments last season, logging a 76.27 scoring average with two rounds at par or better. Kenzel wrapped up last season on a high note with a career best 32nd place finish with a 4-over 220 (74-72-74) at the ACC Championship.
COMPETING TEAMS (Golf Channel Rankings)
1. Auburn (6)
2. Boston College
3. College of Charleston
4. Florida (18)
5. Furman
6. Georgetown
7. Georgia
8. Georgia Southern
9. LSU (17)
10. Maryland
11. Miami
12. NC State
13. Ole Miss (24)
14. Penn State
15. SMU (32)
16. Tennessee (33)
17. Virginia Tech
ROUND 1 TEE TIMES (8:30 a.m. shotgun start)
1A - Vania Simont
1B - Lauren Olivares Leon
2A - Marie Eline Madsen
2B - Lea Ludwig
3B - Jaclyn Kenzel
