Grace Oristian Leads Towson With Fifth-Place Finish at Golf Galaxy Collegiate
By Brian Hradsky
Towson women’s golf senior Grace Oristian delivered a top-five finish as the Tigers climbed the leaderboard during the final round of the inaugural Golf Galaxy Collegiate at Sewickley Heights Golf Club in Sewickley, Pennsylvania.
Oristian finished tied for fifth individually at 14-over par after rounds of 74, 80 and 76. Her 54-hole total of 230 led Towson, while the Tigers improved one position during Tuesday’s final round to finish fourth in the seven-team tournament.
The tournament was played on the par-72, 6,105-yard layout at Sewickley Heights Golf Club and was hosted by Duquesne. The field included Towson, Bucknell, Duquesne, Marshall, Niagara, Mercyhurst and Saint Francis.
Oristian Starts Strong
Oristian put herself in contention immediately with a 2-over 74 during Monday’s opening round. The North Potomac, Maryland, native finished the first 18 holes tied for first place after closing her round with a birdie on No. 18.
She followed her opening 74 with an 80 during the second round, leaving her tied for eighth entering Tuesday. Oristian recorded two birdies in each of her first two rounds and remained one of Towson’s most consistent players throughout the tournament.
The senior responded with a 4-over 76 in the final round to move back up the individual standings. Her 74-80-76 performance produced a three-round score of 230 and a tie for fifth place.
Consistency played a major role in Oristian’s success. She recorded 32 pars across the three rounds and tied for second in the field in par-four scoring.
Tigers Move Up on Final Day
Towson entered the final round sitting fifth after the opening 36 holes but gained a position Tuesday to finish fourth.
The Tigers showed consistency throughout the lineup, particularly when it came to avoiding major mistakes. Towson accumulated 134 pars during the tournament, the second-highest total of any team in the field.
Freshman London Rinaldi provided another highlight during the final round with two birdies on the back nine. The Golf Galaxy Collegiate marked Rinaldi’s first collegiate competition for Towson.
Georgia Volley put together one of Towson’s steadiest stretches Tuesday. The junior recorded nine consecutive pars during the third round, beginning the run on the 10th hole and maintaining it through the remainder of her round.
Luciana Calbimonte, who competed as an individual, also provided several strong moments. The senior made two birdies on the front nine during the final round and finished tied for sixth among the tournament field with six total birdies.
Towson also received tournament experience from freshman Tatyana Smith and junior Ahika Jani. Smith had entered the final round tied for 13th after shooting 80 and 78 on Monday, while Calbimonte also sat tied for 13th following rounds of 75 and 83.
Competitive Showing for Oristian
Oristian’s finish becomes even more notable when looking at the top of the leaderboard.
Duquesne’s Sasha Petrochko captured the individual championship at 3-over par. Bucknell’s Joelle Johnson finished runner-up at 8-over, while Bucknell ultimately controlled the team competition with a 54-hole score of 908. The Bison won the tournament by 18 strokes over host Duquesne.
Bucknell’s depth was difficult for the rest of the field to match, with all six of its golfers finishing inside the top 12 individually. Despite that performance, Oristian placed among the tournament’s top five and helped Towson finish ahead of Niagara, Mercyhurst and Saint Francis in the team standings.
The result also continues an important senior season for Oristian, a North Potomac native and Quince Orchard High School graduate. With an experienced player producing near the top of the leaderboard and younger golfers gaining tournament experience, Towson has a combination that could become increasingly important as the season progresses.
Quick Turnaround for Towson
The Tigers will not have much time away from competition.
Towson returns to action Oct. 3-4 when it travels to Annapolis for the Navy Fall Invitational. That gives the Tigers another opportunity to build on their fourth-place showing while competing much closer to home.
For Oristian, the next tournament provides an opportunity to build on a weekend in which she demonstrated that she can contend near the top of a tournament leaderboard. Her opening-round 74 put her into a share of the lead, and her final-round 76 allowed her to finish the event inside the top five.
MSB Take
Oristian was the clear highlight of this tournament for Towson. A fifth-place finish is strong on its own, but the way she got there should be particularly encouraging for the Tigers. She was tied for the lead after the opening round, recovered from an 80 in the second round and closed with a 76 to move back into the top five.
Towson also showed some encouraging depth. Recording 134 pars and finishing second in the field in that category shows the Tigers were capable of playing consistent golf throughout the lineup, even if they left some opportunities on the course.
The fourth-place team result gives Towson something to build on heading into Annapolis. More importantly, Oristian looks capable of giving the Tigers a golfer who can challenge near the top of the individual leaderboard. With the senior playing well and several younger golfers getting valuable tournament experience, Towson has some positive momentum heading into the Navy Fall Invitational.
