MONROE, N.C. – The Carson-Newman women's golf team turned in its best round of the 2016 South Atlantic Conference Women's Golf Championships at Monroe Country Club in Monroe, N.C. with a 23-over 311 to finish in second place.
The Eagles finished four strokes behind the Queens (N.C.) Royals, who won their first conference title as members of the SAC. The four-stroke difference between the top two teams ties for the closest finish in league history, dating back to 2004; the 2013 and 2011 championships were also decided by four strokes.
Freshman Taylor Hayes (Lake Ozark, Mo.) led the Carson-Newman charge with a fourth-place finish at 14-over 230, while senior Meridith Hawkins (Powell, Tenn.) and sophomore Elizabeth England (Oakland, Tenn.) finished in a three-way tie for ninth.
"We are exhausted. We defended very well; yesterday's round put us a few too many strokes behind today to make up, but we tried hard. I'm so proud of everyone," coach Suzanne Strudwick said.
Hayes shot a final round eight-over 80 to cap the program's best performance by a freshman at 14-over 230. The Lake Ozark, Mo. native bested her teammate Hawkins's fifth-place debutant showing in 2013 Hayes finished the event with 11 birdies.
England shot her best round of the event with a final round three-over 75. England worked around two bogeys on the front nine with three birdies to shoot a one-under 35 before making the turn. On the back nine, the sophomore made five pars and four bogeys to finish at three-over.
Hawkins tallied eight pars and just one bogey before making the turn for a one-over 37 on the front nine. On the back nine, Hawkins turned in a five-over 41 with her lone birdie on the round coming on the par-five 13th; she entered the clubhouse coming off back-to-back bogeys.
Kelli Pemberton's (Knoxville, Tenn.) saved her best round of the conference tournament for Tuesday's final round. The senior's final collegiate round started with back-to-back birdies on the first two holes at Monroe Country Club. The senior finished the front nine with an even-par 36. Pemberton shot a six-over 42 on the back nine to finish with a six-over 78 and finished tied for 32nd.
Junior Jessica Hart (Roanoke, Va.) carded a final round 15-over 87. Hart shot a four-over 40 on the front nine but followed with an 11-over 47 after making the turn to finish at 87. She finished in a tie for 45th.
Queens's Glaze Glaze took home MVP honors after finishing the tournament at seven-over 223. Lenoir-Rhyne's Abbey Hartsell placed second, while Nabila Inak from Newberry finished in third. Hayes held off Queen's Rhea Bhatia by a stroke for fourth.
The Royals won their first conference title by four strokes over C-N, while Lincoln Memorial finished two strokes behind the Eagles for third. Newberry placed fourth, eight strokes behind Queens, while host Wingate rounded out the top-five.
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2 Carson-Newman 312 319 311
4 Taylor Hayes 72 78 80
T9 Meridith Hawkins 76 82 78
T9 Elizabeth England 83 78 75
T32 Kelli Pemberton 81 87 78
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