Completed Event: Women's Golf versus Elon Invitational on September 15, 2025 , , t-1st of 13
WGOLF
Final
James Madison
vs Elon Invitational
t-1st of 13
James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
Hot Start Propels Dukes at Pinehurst Challenge
10/9/2017 8:46:00 PM | Women's Golf
PINEHURST, N.C. - Senior Maddisen Cox notched her best round of the season and senior Laura Gomez-Ruiz used back-to-back par-or-better rounds on Monday to lead the James Madison women's golf team into sole possession of 10th after 36 holes of the Pinehurst Challenge, hosted by the College of Charleston at par-72, 5,974-yard Pinehurst No. 1.
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Gomez-Ruiz followed a morning round of even-par 72 with a 1-under 71 in the afternoon that saw her tally three birdies as she moved into a tie for 16th in the 100-player field. Cox opened her day with a four-birdie loop that yielded a 3-under 69, her lowest performance since a 4-under 68 at the Kingsmill Intercollegiate in March, before closing the day in a tie for 40th at 146 (+2).
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As a team, the Dukes opened the tournament with their lowest round since 2013, a 1-over 289 that saw all four scorers shoot 75 or better. After an 8-over 296 in the afternoon, the Dukes sit just one stroke back of Towson and Jacksonville, which are tied for eighth in the 19-team tournament.
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Sophomore Lauren Comegys sits just three strokes back of Cox in a tie for 58th at 149 (+5; 75-74), while senior Gabrielle Weiss is tied for 65th at 151 (+7; 73-78). Junior Katie Turk closed out the JMU scoring, shaving seven strokes off her opening round with an afternoon of 2-over 74 that tied her for 80th.
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Playing as an individual, sophomore Morgan Cox closed the day with a 3-over 75, her lowest round of the 2017-18 season so far, that pushed her into a tie for 77th at 154 (+10; 79-75).
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WHAT A START
The Dukes' opening round of 1-over 289 marked their lowest single round since shooting 288 at both the Golfweek Program Challenge (Sept. 8-10) and the UNCG Starmount Fall Classic (Sept. 30-Oct.1) in the fall of 2013. Since both of those tournaments were held at par-71 courses, Monday's round was JMU's lowest to-par since a 1-over 289 in the second round of the 2012 UNCW Lady Seahawk Classic (March 24-25) at River Landing Golf Club.
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QUOTING COACH SARGENT
"I was so proud of the way the girls came out confident and ready to go right from the start with a great round. We have some things to work on from the afternoon, but we're in position to move up quickly with a strong start tomorrow."
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UP NEXT
The Dukes will close out the Pinehurst Challenge on Tuesday, Oct. 10, with the last of three rounds. Play is scheduled to begin with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m., with the Dukes going off holes 8-11 alongside Jacksonville, Jacksonville State and UNCG. Live results will be provided at GolfStat.com.
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Gomez-Ruiz followed a morning round of even-par 72 with a 1-under 71 in the afternoon that saw her tally three birdies as she moved into a tie for 16th in the 100-player field. Cox opened her day with a four-birdie loop that yielded a 3-under 69, her lowest performance since a 4-under 68 at the Kingsmill Intercollegiate in March, before closing the day in a tie for 40th at 146 (+2).
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As a team, the Dukes opened the tournament with their lowest round since 2013, a 1-over 289 that saw all four scorers shoot 75 or better. After an 8-over 296 in the afternoon, the Dukes sit just one stroke back of Towson and Jacksonville, which are tied for eighth in the 19-team tournament.
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Sophomore Lauren Comegys sits just three strokes back of Cox in a tie for 58th at 149 (+5; 75-74), while senior Gabrielle Weiss is tied for 65th at 151 (+7; 73-78). Junior Katie Turk closed out the JMU scoring, shaving seven strokes off her opening round with an afternoon of 2-over 74 that tied her for 80th.
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Playing as an individual, sophomore Morgan Cox closed the day with a 3-over 75, her lowest round of the 2017-18 season so far, that pushed her into a tie for 77th at 154 (+10; 79-75).
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WHAT A START
The Dukes' opening round of 1-over 289 marked their lowest single round since shooting 288 at both the Golfweek Program Challenge (Sept. 8-10) and the UNCG Starmount Fall Classic (Sept. 30-Oct.1) in the fall of 2013. Since both of those tournaments were held at par-71 courses, Monday's round was JMU's lowest to-par since a 1-over 289 in the second round of the 2012 UNCW Lady Seahawk Classic (March 24-25) at River Landing Golf Club.
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QUOTING COACH SARGENT
"I was so proud of the way the girls came out confident and ready to go right from the start with a great round. We have some things to work on from the afternoon, but we're in position to move up quickly with a strong start tomorrow."
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UP NEXT
The Dukes will close out the Pinehurst Challenge on Tuesday, Oct. 10, with the last of three rounds. Play is scheduled to begin with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m., with the Dukes going off holes 8-11 alongside Jacksonville, Jacksonville State and UNCG. Live results will be provided at GolfStat.com.
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Players Mentioned
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