SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman women's golf team carded its best round of the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate with a 34-over 322 to finish in eighth-place on Tuesday at the Sevierville Golf Club's Highland Course.
Carson-Newman's final round 322 was the fourth-lowest round of the day in a field filled with Division I teams. Freshman Taylor Hayes (Lake Ozark, Mo.) was the Eagles' top finisher with a three-round total of 26-over 242 to tie for 17th.
"We pulled together today and played better," coach Suzanne Strudwick said. "I'm pleased with how we came back. Patience, focus and being more settled in playing Division I competition helped today. Hopefully, we can keep this momentum going into conference."
Hayes shot a final round seven-over 79 on Tuesday to help the freshman record her third-career top-20 finish. The Missourian tied for the team lead with three birdies, while shooting four-over on par-fives with a 5.27 stroke average.
Senior Meridith Hawkins (Powell, Tenn.) registered her second consecutive round in the 70s with a final round five-over 77, which was C-N's lowest round of the tournament. Hawkins finished in a tie for 25th with a three-round total of 29-over 245. The senior led the Eagles in par-four scoring with an average of 4.62 strokes and a score of 12-over; Hawkins had 28 pars.
Sophomore Elizabeth England (Oakland, Tenn.) shot an 11-over 83 on Tuesday to finish in a tie for 27th. England tied for the team lead with Hawkins with 28 pars, while leading the Orange and Blue on par-threes with an average of 3.56 strokes and a score of 10-over. The sophomore finished the tournament at 30-over 246.
Junior Jessica Hart (Roanoke, Va.) carded her low round of the three-round tournament with a final round 11-over 83; she finished with a total of 41-over 257 to place in a tie for 51st.
Senior Kelli Pemberton (Knoxville, Tenn.) shot a 15-over 87 on Tuesday for her best round of the event. Pemberton finished in 64th-place at 51-over 267 and tied for the Eagles' lead with three birdies. Sophomore Mikaela Thibodeau (Davie, Fla.) shot a final round 23-over 95 and finished in 70th.
Southern Mississippi led throughout the event and held off host Tennessee Tech by five strokes for the team win; Oakland finished in third, while Youngstown State and Austin Peay rounded out the top-five. Youngstown State's Emily Dixon and Southern Miss's Valentina Haupt tied for individual medalist honors.
The Eagles will take Easter weekend off before participating in a dual match with Newberry at Monroe Country Club in Monroe, N.C. on April 2 and the Agnes McAmis Memorial at Link Hills Country Club in Greeneville, Tenn. on April 4 and 5.
8 Carson-Newman 333 335 322 990 +138
T17 Taylor Hayes 81 82 79 242
T25 Meridith Hawkins 89 79 77 245
T27 Elizabeth England 79 84 83 246
T51 Jessica Hart 84 90 83 257
64 Kelli Pemberton 90 90 87 267
70 Mikaela Thibodeau 89 89 95 273
- C-N -
