TicketsCINCINNATI, Ohio -- University of Cincinnati sophomore women's golfer Carmela Simon Prieto made a lifetime memory this summer, claiming a national championship this past weekend in Madrid, Spain.
Prieto and three others represented Escorpion Club de Golf in the two-day event. She was joined by childhood friend Noelia Rodriguez Chicote, who currently plays at Lindenwood University in Missouri. The scoring format featured the two pairs' scores from the first day, followed by the lowest three of the four rounds that followed. Prieto's team won by five strokes.
"This tournament meant a lot for me," Prieto said. "I have a lot more confidence in my game. I wasn't hitting well and maybe needed the rest. We shot 6-under par the first day and it felt so good."
Prieto, a WGCA All-American scholar this summer, appeared in four tournaments as a freshman last year. Each of her final tallies were within six strokes of each other.
"I have worked a lot in some technique things that Coach (Janet Carl) taught me," she said. "I've practiced my routine a lot and it's helped me, especially this last tournament. I actually played in a couple this summer and wanted to take a rest, and I needed it to win this one. I did, and it worked."
Carl echoed similar sentiments.
"She's a real fighter and always going till the end," she said. "It doesn't surprise me that she got it done, especially after being in position that first day. We're excited to get her back and start the fall season."
Unfortunately for Prieto, no fans were allowed due to COVID-19, meaning her parents were not able to make the 223-mile trip from the Mediterranean coast. But nightly updates each day at least had more than enough to say.
Prieto and three others represented Escorpion Club de Golf in the two-day event. She was joined by childhood friend Noelia Rodriguez Chicote, who currently plays at Lindenwood University in Missouri. The scoring format featured the two pairs' scores from the first day, followed by the lowest three of the four rounds that followed. Prieto's team won by five strokes.
"This tournament meant a lot for me," Prieto said. "I have a lot more confidence in my game. I wasn't hitting well and maybe needed the rest. We shot 6-under par the first day and it felt so good."
Prieto, a WGCA All-American scholar this summer, appeared in four tournaments as a freshman last year. Each of her final tallies were within six strokes of each other.
"I have worked a lot in some technique things that Coach (Janet Carl) taught me," she said. "I've practiced my routine a lot and it's helped me, especially this last tournament. I actually played in a couple this summer and wanted to take a rest, and I needed it to win this one. I did, and it worked."
Carl echoed similar sentiments.
"She's a real fighter and always going till the end," she said. "It doesn't surprise me that she got it done, especially after being in position that first day. We're excited to get her back and start the fall season."
Unfortunately for Prieto, no fans were allowed due to COVID-19, meaning her parents were not able to make the 223-mile trip from the Mediterranean coast. But nightly updates each day at least had more than enough to say.