SEVIERVILLE, Tenn.  – Carson-Newman's Meridith Hawkins (Powell, Tenn.) ripped a 71 (-1) to shoot to fourth on the leaderboards at the Smokey Mountain Intercollegiate and earn herself a spot on the SMI All-Tournament team on the final day at the invitational.

Hawkins was one of a slew of Eagles who upped their play on the second day of the tournament.  Carson-Newman sliced 21 strokes from day one to day two to finish at 299 for the day – the second sub-300 round in school history. 

Only a 295 at the Elite Linen Service Invitational in 2009 outranks the Eagles' round.  The 299 is tied for the sixth lowest round in SAC women's golf history. 

Every Eagle that hit the course improved their games by three strokes for the second round. 

Hawkins was one of the one's that jumped three strokes.    

"I've been trying to work on the things that I struggled with last year," Hawkins said. "It's exciting for me because all my hard work is starting to pay off.  I just have to focus on those little things and really be zoned in."

Hawkins birdied 13 and 14 back-to-back.  Chelsea Passmore (Knoxville, Tenn.) eagled 13 to set the Eagles off right.  Passmore had the biggest jump of the day, going from an 85 to a 74 (+2) for a two-day 159 and in a tie for 37^th. 

"I'm not sure last year that we broke 300 (the Eagles didn't)," Hawkins said. "One of the main things we've done to improve is to incorporate food.  Coach Strudwick has us keep our energy up by eating every hole so we're no fatigued at the end of the round."

Lauren Hodge came into the clubhouse with a 76 (+4) in a tie for 26.  Mary Tunnell ended day two with a 78 to close with a 159 and a tie for 37 with Passmore. 

Carson-Newman was the top-finishing South Atlantic Conference team in the tournament.