JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman women's golf team's 2015 Spring schedule features three tournaments hosted by South Atlantic Conference foes and a preview of the NCAA Super South Regional site, coach Suzanne Strudwick announced Monday.
Trips to four states and competitions spanning three months on the calendar highlight the Eagles' schedule.
The Spring portion of the 2014-15 schedule kicks off on February 7th and 8th at the Kiawah Island Intercollegiate hosted by Tusculum. Gary Player redesigned the 6,875-yard, par-72 Cougar Point Golf Club was recently named the South Carolina Golf Course of the Year. The Eagles placed ninth in the Kiawah Island Intercollegiate last season and then sophomore Meredith Hawkins (Powell, Tenn.) led the way with a 23rd-place finish.
Earlier this season, the Carson-Newman men's golf team participated in the male tournament at Kiawah Island.
"It's one we managed to get in last year as an invitation, Tusculum runs that, and it is such a fantastic regional event for us, a lot of top teams from Florida," Strudwick said of the Kiawah Island Intercollegaite. "Last year, we finished ninth and it was a wonderful kick start for us.; we didn't finish out of the top 10 after that. I'm looking for the same, maybe a little better based on course knowledge."
Carson-Newman takes four weeks off before traveling south to the Peach State for the Armstong Pirate Women's Tournament on March 8th and 9th at the Savannah Quarters Country Club. The par-72, 6,550-yard course serves as a Super South Regional preview for the Eagles. During the 2013-14 season, C-N finished tied for eighth in the event; Kelli Pemberton finished tied for 21st to lead the team.
"Armstrong Atlantic is such a strong school; they bring in that Florida, so it helps us play strong schools, strong regional schools without having to travel all the way down to Florida. They come up to us and it is a great middle ground," Strudwick said. The fact that is a preview for us for regions is a plus, but it is not the only reason."
Carson-Newman makes its debut at the Wingate Intercollegiate Challenge on March 22nd and 23rd that will be played at Ole Sycamore Plantation in the Queen City. The Charlotte-based course opened in 1997 and stretches across 6,398 yards.
The Eagles conclude the regular season in the Volunteer State with their second tournament in two weeks at the Agnes McAmis Memorial hosted by Tusculum. Carson-Newman will make the short trip east to participate in the tournament for the six consecutive season. The tournament will be played at Greeneville's Link Hills Country Club. The Eagles have finished second twice in the tournament, including last season where now-graduated Mary Tunnell placed second in the individual competition.
"For us to advance, we have a really tough Fall schedule. We have played really tough competition, which is what I want for the team, but we didn't fair as well as I was hoping, so we are quite a ways down regionally. We have to win one of those tournaments to move on up," Strudwick said of closing the regular season strong.
"To play conference schools, we have to win either one of those. Obviously, if we win both of them, that's awesome. But my goal is win at least one of those going into conference."
The Eagles' play host to the South Atlantic Conference Tournament at their home course of Sevierville Golf Club on April 13th through the 15th. The tournament will be played on Sevierville's River Course, a par-72 course that hosted the Smokey Mountain Intercollegiate in the Fall. Last season, Carson-Newman finished the tournament tied for third that was played at Sevierville's Highlands Course. Meredith Hawkins finished tied for seventh individually.
"We switch courses from before, which traditionally has been the course the men play. And the way we set it up, it is challenging, but fair," Strudwick said of the change between the two courses in Sevier County. "It gives the girl a little bit more of a preview of playing on a course that the men are used to playing. So it's a little bit longer, little bit more rewarding for good shots.
And we get the opportunity to set it up and set the pins when you are hosting, so obviously, I'm going to practice with my girls beforehand and they will be very familiar with it. I'll be disappointed if we don't win."
Coverage of the Eagles' Spring schedule kickoffs February 7th with Kiawah Island Intercollegiate. Stay tuned to cneagles.com and @cnathletics on Twitter for the latest on the Carson-Newman women's golf program.
-CN-