Women's Golf Southern Conference

Monday's Women's Golf Roundup

Elon surges to fourth-place finish at Palmetto Intercollegiate

KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – Martyna Mierzwa shot a 1-over par 217 to help lead the Elon women's golf team to a fourth-place tie at the Palmetto Intercollegiate, the final tournament of the fall season for the squad.  The Phoenix notched a three-round score of 894 (303-293-298) to tie with both Michigan and Maryland.

After Sunday's play was suspended during round two, the Phoenix came out and finished its second round with a score of 293 - its lowest round of the two-day event.  The Maroon and Gold's final round of 298 aided the climb up the leaderboard and was a lower score than all but three of the 17 teams in the field posted in the round.

Mierzwa's 217 (73-71-73) earned her a tie for second individually, marking her highest career finish.  Her previous best showing came earlier this fall when she tied for fourth at the Lady Pirate Intercollegiate.  Over her three rounds of play, Mierzwa tallied nine birdies, an impressive number considering the blustery conditions caused by Hurricane Sandy off the Atlantic coast.

Sunna Vidisdottir was one of five players in the 95-player field to end the tournament in a tie for ninth.  Vidisdottir shot a 220 (75-72-73) and finished with six birdies.

Elon's third finisher was Katie Partridge.  Partridge carded her lowest round over her final 18 holes of the tournament with a 74.  Her 228 (79-75-74) placed her in a tie for 39th.  She recorded eight birdies for the tournament.  Just one stroke back with a 229 (76-75-78) was Emily Brooks.  Brooks placed 49th and also had eight birdies.

Finally, Kathryrn Buckingham tied for 78th with a mark of 240 (83-77-80).  She notched both of her birdies on her final round and also had Elon's lone eagle of the tournament during her second round.

Campbell's Maria Jose Benavides notched a 3-under 213 (73-69-71) to earn medalist honors, holding off Mierzwa and another pair of golfers by four strokes.

Campbell, ranked 35th nationally by Golfstat, also claimed the team title.  The Fighting Camels posted an 866 (282-295-289).  East Tennessee State (296-300-291=887) and Coastal Carolina (292-302-297=891) finished second and third, respectively.

Elon trailed both Michigan (296-295-303) and Maryland (298-293-303) entering Monday's final round before climbing into a tie with both programs.

The rest of the top 10 included Kansas (307-296-299=902), host College of Charleston (309-298-299=906), Augusta State (302-305-300=907) and Jacksonville State (309-296-305=910).

 

College of Charleston 10th at Palmetto Intercollegiate

KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – Senior Vanessa Koechli finished tied for fifth place to lead the College of Charleston women’s golf team to an eighth-place finish at the Palmetto Intercollegiate at Oak Point Golf Course on Monday.

The Cougars shot an 11-over 299 to close the tournament with rounds of 309-298-299=906 (+42). Campbell (+2) was the team champion as it earned a 21-shot victory over runner-up East Tennessee State. Coastal Carolina (+27) finished in third place.

Koechli played three consistent rounds and carded scores of 73 and 75 before finishing with a 1-under 71. She finished at 3-over for the tournament and a share of fifth place individually.

Freshman Julia Neumann and Morgan Webber finished tied for 39th at 12-over.

Fellow freshman Louise Olsson, who competed as an individual, finished tied for 26th place with rounds of 76-72-77=225 (+9). Olsson provided one of the highlights of the day for the Cougars, as she holed out on the par-4 third hole for an eagle.

This tournament concluded the fall portion of the Cougars’ schedule. Up next, the team travels to Sorrento, Fla., for the UCF Challenge on Feb. 10-12.

 

The Citadel wraps up competition at Palmetto Intercollegiate

KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – Sophomore Kellie Anderson continued her solid play for The Citadel as she posted a two-day score of 240 (+24) and tied for 78th at the Palmetto Intercollegiate, which took place at the par-72, 5,906-yard Oak Point Course on Kiawah Island.

The Bulldogs posted a score of 988 (326-328-334) as Campbell captured the tournament crown with a score of 866, one shot better than East Tennessee State. Coastal Carolina rounded out the top three finishers with an 891 over the two-day event.

Anderson (79-81-80=240), who was the only Bulldog to post a round in the 70s, was nine shots better than teammate Erica Pellegrini, who shot a 33-over 249 (81-84-84) for the tournament.

Other Citadel scorecards included TaKima Butler (90-83-81=254), who placed 92nd, Eraina Manor (82-80-93=255) and Hollie Salvo (84-84-89=257).

Top individual honors went to Campbell's Maria Jose Benavides, who shot a 213 (-3) for the tournament, including a final-round 71. There was a three-way tie for second place between Christine Shimel (Maryland), Martyna Mierzwa (Elon) and Vivienne Chin (East Tennessee State), all with scores of 217 (+1).