MARYVILLE – The Carson-Newman women's golf team began the 2009-10 season with a victory in the Elite Linen Service Inc. Maryville College Women's Invitational Golf Tournament at Lambert Acres Golf Course.

Senior Sarah Jane Sinard also won the individual title in the event as she fired a two-day total of five-under, 139.

The Lady Eagles turned in a total of 295 Saturday, giving them a winning score of 597 – 11 strokes better than South Atlantic Conference foe Lincoln Memorial, who shot 304 both days. Tusculum finished a distant third at 639.

Carson-Newman had three of the top four individual finishers in the event. Junior Jessica Tarbett was the runner-up (76-75–151), although she finished 12 strokes behind Sinard. Freshman Melanie Manis placed fourth with a card of 79-74–153.

Carson-Newman sophomores Jennifer Oliver (80-75) and Erica Ray (79-76) both turned in totals of 155 to tie for ninth place. Leah Hagedorn also competed for the Lady Eagles and finished with a 91-82–173.

The Lady Eagles are in action this week as they compete in the Pfeiffer University Lady Falcon Invitational at the Old North State Country Club in New London, North Carolina. The two-day event begins on Monday.