CHARLESTON, S.C. – Behind a career-best showing by senior Ginnie Lee, the Virginia Tech women's golf team placed third at the season-opening Cougar Classic, which concluded Tuesday at Yeamans Hall Club (par 71, 6,269 yards).
Fueled by Lee's 2-under 211 (67-72-72), the Hokies captured third in the team standings behind preseason No. 10-ranked Auburn (5-under 847) and LSU (4-under 848). Tech combined for a 7-over 859, which included a 1-under 283 in Monday afternoon's second round.
There was a four-way tie for fourth place between ACC foes Miami, Boston College and SMU, and Florida of the SEC at 13-over 865.
Lee (T8th) delivered her second career top-10 showing on the strength of an outstanding opening-round 67 (-4). The Lausanne, Switzerland native carded nine birdies over her 54 holes to finish in red figures for the first time since the second event of her freshman campaign in 2021-22.
Sophomores Valentine Delon (213) and Emily Mathews (216) tied for 13th and 26th, respectively. Delon fired a 3-under 68 in the second round while Mathews shot the second-best round of the final day at 4-under 67. Katherine Lemke (224) and Morgan Ketchum (225) tied for 60th and 64th, respectively.
Alina Ho competed as an individual and fired an 11-over 224 to tie for 60th in her first collegiate event.
Maryland's Nicha Kanpai manufactured a final-round 66 (-5) to overtake Auburn's Anna Davis for medalist honors at 7-under 206. Davis finished one shot behind at 6-under 207.
The Hokies next tee it up at the Schooner Fall Classic, Sept. 21-23. They finished runner-up at the event a year ago, behind a school-record performance by Ketchum. The 54-hole event will be hosted by Oklahoma at Belmar Golf Club in Norman.
Hokies excel in season-opening Cougar Classic
Tech places third, Ginnie Lee ties for eighth