MONROE, N.C. – Senior Kelli Pemberton (Knoxville, Tenn.) recorded her first top-five finish of the year and the Carson-Newman women's golf team finished third at the Wingate South Atlantic Conference Preview at Monroe Country Club in Monroe, N.C. on Sunday as the Eagles finished up the fall portion of their schedule.
Sophomore Elizabeth England (Oakland, Tenn.) and freshman Taylor Hayes (Lake Ozark, Mo.) joined Pemberton in the top-10 as the Eagles recorded their third top-three finish of the fall.
"Third is a good result, but we know we can win in conference in the spring. We now know what we can work on during the offseason," coach Suzanne Strudwick said. "Elizabeth had the low score for the day for a good comeback in tough conditions. Kelli placed third individually with her best tournament this year. Everyone else was steady and I'm very pleased with how we finished this season. I'm looking forward to a break and working on the things we need to improve on for the spring."
Pemberton's final round total of five-over 77 tied her best score of the season to help guide her to a two-way for third. The senior had the third-best score on par-fours during the tournament with a score of six-over and averaged 4.30 strokes. Pemberton finished the tournament with a combined score of 11-over 155.
England and Hayes finished in a six-way tie for seven with a combined score of 14-over 158. England recorded Carson-Newman's low round of the tournament with her second round score of 75. The sophomore carded the second-most birdies in the field with five and shot even-par on par-fives. Hayes followed her first round score of 78 with a final round total of 80 for her 158. Hayes had three birdies in the event and tied with Wingate's Mikaela Hadaway with the best score on par-threes with an one-over.
Senior Meridith Hawkins (Powell, Tenn.) fired her second-straight round of 81 to finish with her third top-20 finish of the season with a tie for 18th. Hawkins recorded pars on 22 of her 36 holes to lead the Eagles in that category. The senior had the second-lowest score among Eagles on par-threes with an average stroke of 3.38.
Senior Rebekah Pruett (Niceville, Fla.) rounded out the Eagles' team with a round of 87 on Sunday to finish in a tie for 41st with a combined score of 29-over 173.
Junior Jessica Hart (Roanoke, Va.) competed as an individual and finished for 31st with a final round score of 82. Hart dropped three strokes from her Saturday score on Sunday. The junior shot nine-over on par-fours, which ranked 10th in the field, with an average stroke of 4.45.
The host Bulldogs won by eight strokes over North Carolina – Pembroke, while the Eagles finished nine strokes off the lead; Wingate senior Cailtin Starrs shot a final round 77 to win the event by two strokes over Savannah Thompson of UNC – Pembroke; Pemberton tied with Newberry's Nabila Inak for third.
Follow along with all of the latest Carson-Newman women's golf news during the winter and into the 2016 year on cneagles.com.
T3 Kelli Pemberton 78-77 155
T7 Elizabeth England 83-75 158
T7 Taylor Hayes 78-80 158
T18 Meridith Hawkins 81-81 162
31 Jessica Hart 85-82 167
T41 Rebekah Pruett 86-87 173
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