When a golf team struggles, it usually finishes among the also-rans.

But the women's golf team won the William & Mary Invitational in Williamsburg, Va., despite not playing its best golf. The team overcame poor weather conditions and a four-shot final round deficit over the weekend to win the tournament.

Senior Meg Young finished third in the tournament, shooting a 81-88-79--247. Also putting up top scores were freshman Colleen Scally (85-83-82--250) and senior Kerry Lee O'Leary (84-86-83--253).

"It was a bittersweet win," said Assistant Coach Denise St. Pierre. "The weather made a challenging course even more challenging. But even with the conditions, scores should have been lower in the first two rounds."

Young felt the weather did not come into play.

"It's not an excuse for our play," she said. "We did not play up to our potential. We just didn't have it have it together all weekend."

The Lady Lions struggled during the first two rounds on Friday and Saturday. Various weather conditions, including torrential rains, strong winds and even hail, created problems for the team.

Penn State's total of 340 on the first day left the Lady Lions in first place but well above their team average. Young shot 81 to lead the team.

The team lost its lead to Charleston in the second round with a 343 total. Scally shot 83 and was the only golfer to break 85. Charleston shot 335 to turn a four-shot deficit into a four-shot lead.

Before the final round, St. Pierre told the team members to realize they were better than how they were playing. She assured the Lady Lions that they were the best team in the field and should have no problem winning the tournament.

The Lady Lions responded by shooting their lowest round of the tournament on Sunday. Their 327 total moved them past Charleston and gave them a four-shot victory.

Penn State played its best when it had to. The team played very well on the back nine of the final round, said St. Pierre. Team captain Kristin Clark and O'Leary played big when it counted. Clark shot two over for the final nine.

"The team came through in the stretch," St. Pierre said. "Maturity, experience and talent finally won out. The competition was not as strong as we're going to face. We've got to get our act together to compete with the teams we will be playing."

The Lady Lions will be competing in the Indiana Invitational in Bloomington, Ind., this weekend. Most of the Big Ten schools will be competing at the invite. It will be good preparation for the Big Ten Championships April 30-May 3.