PONTE VEDRE, FLA. – The Carson-Newman Lady Eagle golf team shot a day-two low 321 to finish the 2010 Queens Invitational in second place, seven strokes behind tournament champion Belmont Abbey, on Tuesday afternoon at the 72-par Pete Dye's Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass.
Top-five finishes out of Jessica Tarbet (Corryton, Tenn.) and Erica Ray (Maryville, Tenn.) helped earn the Lady Eagles a shot at a tournament title under head coach Mandy Moore in her first tournament. The Lady Eagles took second a stroke ahead of Ashland University and nine strokes ahead of West Florida.
Tarbet, a junior, rallied with a 3-over 75 on day two to move into the top five at 158, finishing in a tie with Ray, who carded an 81after an opening round 76. The two finished seven strokes off the pace.
Sophomore Melanie Manis (Knoxville, Tenn.) finished in 13th, 11 strokes back, after carding a 162, including a 79 on day two. Junior Jennifer Oliver (Knoxville, Tenn.) finished with a two-day total of 174, while freshman Mary Tunnel (Memphis, Tenn.)closed at 180 in her first tournament as a Lady Eagle.
The top five finishers were awarded plaques at the award ceremony afterwards. Jennifer Gartin of the University of West Florida was crowned the overall champion with scores of 75 and 76 (151). Michele Low of Belmont Abbey was one stroke behind Gartin shooting a 152. Flagler's Elin Karlsson earned third place honors with a combined score of 153. Carson-Newman's Erica Ray and Jessica Tarbet took home the fourth and fifth place awards with a158 each.
The Lady Eagles return to action at 11th Annual Myrtle Beach Intercollegiate on Oct. 4-5 held at Sea Trail Golf Club (Byrd Course) in Sunset Beach, N.C.
Head coach Mandy Moore on her team's performance:
"It has been kind of tough getting everything organized in such a short time (hired last week), but we went down there and played well. In all I am pleased with our tournament, but there is still room for improvement…I was very impressed with how the girls handled everything, they've been extremely helpful and understanding…Jessica (Tarbet) had a really good second day, and Erica (Ray) also played very well…We're happy with our finish and it was a good first tournament, but there is still room for improvement."
