GANNON WOMEN’S GOLF SEASON PREVIEW

ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon women’s golf team has established itself as a dominant force in the PSAC over the past half-decade, winning five consecutive conference tournament championships.

 

In 2024-25, Gannon Director of Golf Scott Stano and his Golden Knights look to maintain their status atop the PSAC while also setting their sights on a trip to Nationals.

 

Gannon returns plenty of talent, led by its No. 1 player, Ditte Petersen (Dianalund, Denmark/Sorø Akademi Skole). The senior captain is a two-time PSAC champion and a two-time PSAC Women’s Golf Athlete of the Year. She is also a three-time All-PSAC First Team selection who set Gannon’s single-season scoring record in 2023-24 with a 74.7 stroke average.

 

However, Petersen is not the lone talented veteran. Like Petersen, senior Andrea Martinez (Tarragona, Spain/Col·legi Vedruna Sagrat Cor) has been a key member of the past three PSAC championship teams.

 

“We have two seniors, Ditte Petersen (Dianalund, Denmark/Sorø Akademi Skole) and Andrea Martinez (Tarragona, Spain/Col·legi Vedruna Sagrat Cor), that have played a lot of these golf courses, so we will be counting on them a lot this year,” Stano said. “But we have some young kids playing really well too that can crack the lineup, so from top to bottom, we’re pretty deep this year, and I’m pretty excited for it.”

 

Sophomores Cloe Mateo (Sabadell, Spain/Montcau la Mola) and Victoria Colmenares (Santa Cruz, Bolivia/ICL Academy) also are back after strong freshman seasons. Mateo is dealing with an injury to open the season, but a pair of freshmen have stepped up in the preseason and will be in the lineup for the opening tournament. Alexandria LeCureux (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston)  and Gunnhildur Gunnarsdóttir both have moved into the top five for the UC Golden Eagle Fall Invitational in Charleston, W.Va., on Monday and Tuesday.

2023-24 Postseason:

PSAC Tournament

1st out of 10 teams (5th consecutive title)

NCAA Div. II East Regional

7th out of 15 teams

Head Coach and Director of Golf:

Scott Stano (10th year overall)

Stano was promoted to Director of Golf at Gannon last year and has served as the women’s golf coach for nine seasons. During that time, his team has enjoyed great success, including a record-setting five straight PSAC Championships. He has been named the PSAC Women’s Golf Coach of the Year six times. Stano will now oversee the men’s golf program as well.

Key Returnees:

Ditte Petersen (Dianalund, Denmark/Sorø Akademi Skole): The senior is already one of the most decorated golfers in Gannon history after winning the PSAC Tournament championship for the second consecutive season and being named the PSAC Women’s Golf Athlete of the Year for the second straight year. She also made the All-PSAC First Team for the third straight season and was named to the WGCA All-East Region Team. Petersen won two tournament titles in 2023-24 while adding seven top-three-finishes, eight top-five finishes and nine top-10 finishes.

 

Andrea Martinez (Tarragona, Spain/Col·legi Vedruna Sagrat Cor): The senior has been a strong three-year contributor to the Gannon program while helping the Golden Knights to three PSAC team titles. She placed fifth at the PSAC Championships last spring and was named All-PSAC First Team for the second consecutive year. Martinez placed third on the team with a 79.1 stroke average over 27 rounds in 12 tournaments. She claimed her first collegiate tournament victory by winning the Evann Parker Memorial in a playoff. She also had three top-five finishes and four top-10 finishes.

 

Cloe Mateo (Sabadell, Spain/Montcau la Mola): She earned the PSAC Freshman of the Year award as a Gannon golfer claimed that honor for the fifth year in a row. She finished second on the team with a 78.4 stroke average in 27 rounds over 12 tournaments and was named to the All-PSAC First Team. Mateo placed second in the PSAC Championships behind teammate Petersen. She finished the season with five top-five finishes.

 

Victoria Colmenares (Santa Cruz, Bolivia/ICL Academy): She turned in a strong freshman season in 2023-24 as she compiled an 81.4 stroke average over 22 rounds in 11 tournaments. She recorded three top-10 finishes. Colmenares carded eight sub-80 rounds, including a season-best 73 in the opening round of the ODU Champions of Women’s Golf Fall Classic.

 

Junior Emily Donahue (Grove City, Pa./Grove City) and sophomore Jillian Gambino (Mayfield Village, Ohio/Mayfield), who will play as individuals in the opener, also could make an impact this season.

 

Season Opener:

UC Golden Eagle Fall Invitational

Dates: Monday, Sept. 9 and Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024

Golf Course: Berry Country Club.

Format: 36-hole stroke play event; 18 Holes Monday 9/9 and 18 holes on Tuesday 9/10

Lineup: Play 5 score 4

Time: 11:30 am shotgun Monday; 9:30 am shotgun Tuesday 

Expected teams: Gannon, Ashland, Barton, Bluefield State, Charleston, Concord, Davis & Elkins, Emory & Henry, Fairmont State, Glenville State, Mount Olive, Ursuline, West Virginia Wesleyan, West Liberty, Wheeling. About 86 players are expected to be in the field.

Gannon lineup

1. Ditte Petersen (Dianalund, Denmark/Sorø Akademi Skole) 

2. Andrea Martinez (Tarragona, Spain/Col·legi Vedruna Sagrat Cor) 

3. Alexandria LeCureux (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston) 

4. Victoria Colmenares (Santa Cruz, Bolivia/ICL Academy) 

5. Gunnhildur Gunnarsdóttir

 

Individual: Emily Donahue (Grove City, Pa./Grove City) 

Individual: Jillian Gambino (Mayfield Village, Ohio/Mayfield)