HOOVER, ALA. — To conclude the opening three-week stretch of their fall season, the Loyola Chicago women's golf team ended the Hoover Invite in 12th place out of 14 teams.

Loyola finished the event with a team score of 74-over-par (+19,+24,+31). Alabama took home the team victory with a final score of seven-over-par (+8,-2,+1) while Samford's Gabi Nicastro repeated as the Hoover Invite individual champion with a score of five-under-par (-4,-2,+1). 

"This was our third straight weekend on the road, and I think the fatigue got the best of us midway through the second round," said head coach Brandy Johnston. "We have a little time now to get some rest and some quality practice in before we head to Butler on October 1st."

Freshman Grace Hui had the best tournament of her young career by ending with a team-best score of 11-over-par (+5,E,+6) which led to her finishing the event in a tie for 31st place. Her finishing score was the best 54-hole total of her season, and in round two, her even-par performance was the best round of her career. 

"Grace Hui had her most consistent performance to date," continued Johnston. "It would have been even better if not for a quadruple bogey on her fifth hole today. She showed a lot of mental toughness after that, finishing her final 13 holes at one-over par. It's been fun to watch her growth as a player over these past few weeks."

Another highlight of the Hoover Invite was sophomore Grace Durkin's first-round performance. Durkin ended the first 18 holes two-over-par, which marked a new career-best round for the sophomore. In the end, Durkin finished the tournament with a score of 26-over-par (+2,+7,+17). 

Seniors Jolie Brochu (+5,+7,+10) and Cate Reisinger (+7,+10,+5) both finished at 22-over-par to put them in a tie for 66th along with sophomore Cassie Psuik (+6,+6,+10), who played the tournament as an individual. Brochu's performance included an eagle in round two on the par-5 18th. Finally, freshman Madison Haugen ended the event with a score of 29-over-par (+9,+10,+10). 

The Ramblers will get a week off before they head to Indianapolis for the Butler Invitational on September 30th and October 1st. Last season, the team finished this event in fifth place out of 16 teams.