North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
Pirate Collegiate Classic
Women’s Golf, Madsen on Top at Pirate Collegiate Classic
9/15/2026 3:47:00 PM | Women's Golf
GREENVILLE, N.C. – The NC State women's golf team won the Pirate Collegiate Invitational Tuesday with a 13-under 851 (288-280-283). That 54-hole score is the third best in school history in a tournament in which NC State pulled away late in the second round to run away with the team win.
Marie Eline Madsen also earned her sixth career win to extend her record, becoming the individual co-medalist with an 8-under 208, tying the fourth-best 54-hole score in school history.
With the victory, Darby Sligh now has three of the 14 team wins in school history in just her fourth season at the helm. The program's four top 54-hole scores in school history have come all under Coach Sligh at the helm as well.
In the second round, NC State shot a 280, which marked the sixth-best 18-hole team score in school history and tied for the second best in the Sligh era.
Several student-athletes also had career-best performances in Greenville with six rounds in the 60s and nine rounds at par or better.
Madsen led the charge with an 8-under 208 (67-69-72) for a share of the win. She now has three rounds in the 60s this season and 25 in her career. Her 67 was the 10th best 18-hole score in school history. In her career, Madsen now has six wins, 17 top 10-finishes and 23 top-20 showings. She led the field in par 5s average (4.33).
Ellie Hildreth was the next Wolfpack finisher with a 2-under 214 (72-73-69). She now has 11 rounds at par or better and four in the 60s. Tying for 12th, she picked up her seventh top 20 finish of her career
Lindsay McGrath and Bonnie Lo were the next finishers, tying for 18th. McGrath shot an even-par 216 (70-68-74). Her best round was in the second, in which she logged a career-low 68 behind a nearly clean round with five birdies, one bogey and 12 pars. The 68 is the 26th best 18-hole score in school history.
In her second collegiate outing, Lo made some noise, finishing with an even-par 216 (76-70-70). She finished the tournament strong with back-to-back under-par rounds. She had an eagle on 18 in the second round and finished the third round on a great note with four birdies, 12 pars and two bogeys.
Elizabeth Sullivan played in her first tournament of the season, doing so as an individual, and closed it out on a high-note to move into 22nd place. She finished the tournament with a 1-over 217 (74-75-68). Her round three showing was the 26th best in program history, as well as her second career round in the 60s. After starting out the third round with a bogey on 10, Sullivan had six birdies in eight holes on the back nine (three straight on 11-13 and three straight from 16-18).
Giulia Foresta made her season and NC State debut, also as an individual. She wrapped up the tournament with a 3-over 219 (73-69-77) to finish in a tie for 24th. Foresta logged a season-low 69 in round two, highlighted by an eagle on the 18th hole. The 69 marked her fifth career round in the 60s. Sullivan and Foresta played as individuals.
Violeta Fernandez-Tagle finished in a tie for 26th with a 4-over 220 (75-73-72).
Individual Scores
1 - Marie Eline Madsen: 67-69-72=208 (-8)
T12 - Ellie Hildreth: 72-73-69=214 (-2)
T18 - Lindsay McGrath: 74-68-74=216 (E)
T18 - Bonnie Lo: 76-70-70=216 (E)
T22 - Elizabeth Sullivan*: 74-75-68=217 (+1)
T24 - Giulia Foresta*: 73-69-77=219 (+3)
T26 - Violeta Fernandez-Tagle: 75-73-72=220 (+4)
* Played as an individual
Team Scores
1 - NC State: -13
2 - UNCG: -4
3 - East Carolina: -1
4 - Longwood: +4
5 - Stetson: +8
6 - Appalachian State: +10
7 - Jacksonville State: +15
8 - Troy: +17
9 - James Madison: +21
10 - Gardner-Webb: +48
11 - Charleston Southern: +53
12 - Jacksonville: +62
13 - Radford: +71
Upcoming
NC State is set for NB3 Matchplay at Twin Warriors from Tuesday, Sept. 29 to Wednesday, Sept. 30. The event will be broadcast on the Golf Channel.
