JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman women's golf team finishes the fall portion of its 2015-16 schedule with a trip to Monroe, N.C. for the Wingate SAC Preview at Monroe Country Club in an event that serves as the preview of the 2016 South Atlantic Conference Championship.
The Eagles have finished second in their previous two tournaments and look to contend for the win in a tournament filled to the brim by SAC foes.
The Carson-Newman team will consist of a freshman, a sophomore and three seniors to conclude the fall. Freshman Taylor Hayes (Lake Ozark, Mo.), sophomore Elizabeth England (Oakland, Tenn.) and seniors Meridith Hawkins (Powell, Tenn.), Kelli Pemberton (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Rebekah Pruett (Niceville, Fla.) make up the five-person team. Junior Jessica Hart (Roanoke, Va.) is also competing in the tournament as an individual. England, Hawkins and Hayes have competed at all three of the Eagles' previous tournaments, while Pemberton, Pruett and Hart have each competed twice.
England owns the team's low round of the season thus far with a 73 in the first round of the Smokey Mountain Intercollegiate. Hawkins has carded rounds of 76 twice in on the season, while Hayes has shot a 76 on three occasions. Pemberton's low score is a 77 and the senior also has a 79 to her credit. Hart also has a round in the 70's on the year with a 79 during the first round of the SMI. Pruett is coming off her best round of the season with an 80 during the final round of the Lady Flames Shootout on Monday.
At their last tournament, England, Hawkins and Hayes all finished in the top-10; Hawkins's eighth-place finish was her best finish of the year.
Joining Carson-Newman and host Wingate in the field will be: Catawba, Coker, Lincoln Memorial, Mars Hill, Newberry, two teams from Queens (N.C.) and Peach Belt Conference member North Carolina – Pembroke. The Bulldogs will also field two teams of five players. According to golfstat.com's rankings, UNCP is ranked 22nd to lead the field. The Eagles are ranked 47th.
Monroe Country Club's front nine was designed by Donald Ross in 1936 and features subtle elevation changes and Ross-style greens. The back nine features a 1970's design by Tom Jackson and provides tree-lined fairways, large greens, tricky doglegs that can reward or punish any golfer.
The 36-hole tournament tees off on Saturday morning and concludes on Sunday with a final 18 holes. A recap of each day's round and scores from all six Eagles will be available on cneagles.com.
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