VIDEO: Suzanne Strudwick Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Following a seventh-place finish in the South Atlantic Conference Tournament in Greeneville, Tenn. in April, the Eagles look to start the 2017 fall slate with a win at the King Invitational in Bristol, Tenn.
Last season, Suzanne Strudwick's team won the tournament in its inaugural showing at the event. The team shot 608 through two rounds, sliding past host school King University by three strokes to take the victory.
In last fall's showing, Strudwick's crew made the most of their first trip to Bristol by finishing the event as the top team with standout performances on both days of competition. Kinnie and England finished day one at the top two spots on the leaderboard with a 73 and 75, respectively. C-N as a team was tied for second after that day, as well. Hayes, Fletcher and Watts also performed in the event.
"I think the girls are going in with some confidence," Strudwick said of her group. "It's our first event of the year defending that title at King's home ground, there's obviously going to be some rivalry and King are going to want revenge."
In the individual competition, Elizabeth England shot a final round of 68 to set a conference record after an opening round of 75 to put her one over par at the end of competition with a 143. She shot for par on 26 of 36 holes over two days winning her first of three victories she would pick up through the duration of the season.
The lone senior became the first player in program history to be honored three consecutive years as an All-South Atlantic Conference first-team member.
Along with England, the Eagles return seven members from last year's squad including junior Taylor Hayes and sophomores Reagan Kinnie, Allie Fletcher and Rachel Watts, who all participated in the SAC Tournament earlier this year.
The late start to the fall slate of tournaments gave the team two extra weeks of preparation time for the King invitational.
"It's been good. Obviously, for the freshmen, it's difficult because they're not used to these courses," Strudwick mentioned. "For me, it's just for me to get to see where the girls are at. Coming off of that long summer break, as a coach, you just want to know where your players are, who's performing well, who's put the work in over the summer or who's having kind of a slow start but might get it going in practice later on in the season."
This season, seven players get to travel from each team, expanding from six players last season. For the orange and blue, England, Hayes and Kinnie will make their returns to the Country Club of Bristol as starters for the Eagles. Joining them will be sophomore Katie Medley, playing in her second tournament with the Eagles, and freshman Matilda Frovenholt, looking to make an impact in her first days of action with C-N.
Watts and freshman Jayla Sims will travel with the team as individual competitors.
The King Invitational will tee-off Monday morning at the country Club of Bristol as the Tornado golf squad hosts numerous teams including SAC members Anderson (S.C.) and Catawba.
