DAVIE, Fla. – Behind school record-tying two-round performances from both junior Emma Charles and sophomore Jessica Rathbone, the seventh-ranked Anderson women's golf team is in third place following opening-day action, Monday at the 2021 South Regional Preview.
The two-day, 54-hole event featured 36 holes on Monday and is being hosted by Nova Southeastern at the Grande Oaks Golf Club on a par-71, 5950-yard layout.
"Today was an odd day," said Anderson Associate Head Coach Denton Moore. "We come out in the first round against one of the best fields in the country, and play almost mistake-free golf. We shot a 288 - one off the program record. Honestly, we didn't play perfect in the first round, but we had zero silly mistakes. We had no 3-putts, lots of solid up and downs and no major penalty shots. It was the best I have ever seen this team look in my six years here from a steady aspect. We had a three-shot lead over the number one team in the country, and a commanding lead over the rest of the field."
The formidable field is strewn with nationally Top-25 ranked teams including the top two squads in the nation, and eight of the Top-25 ranked teams.
Top-ranked Lynn leads the chase for the team title by eight strokes over second-place Barry, which is ranked 11th in the country. The Trojans are just one shot out of third place and lead 10th-ranked Florida Southern by four strokes heading into Tuesday's final round.
Second-ranked Limestone is in fifth place, while the host Sharks occupy the sixth spot. No. 18 Flagler is seventh, with Nova Southeastern (B) in the eighth slot. No. 25 West Florida, West Georgia and Eckerd round out the 11-team field after Palm Beach Atlantic dropped out.
"Unfortunately, we did the opposite in the second round," added Moore. "We had several 3-putts. We had several shots where we went mind numb around the greens. We have to be better at backing up that first round. It doesn't have to be perfect, but it can't be that. It's just too big of a swing the other way. Overall, the average of 297 of the two rounds is solid, and I'm very proud of that. I'm just not happy how we got there."
Barry's Alice Gotbring (70-71=141) leads the battle for individual medalist honors by three shots over Lynn's Maria Hoyos (73-71=144) and Sara Ericsson (72-72=144), with Charles and Rathbone both in the mix and looking to bring home their first collegiate title after each fired two-over par 144s on the day.
Charles (71-73=144) and Rathbone (70-74=144) both equaled the school record for 36-hole scores, which was set in 2018 by teammate Anna Freeman and former standout Kate Hill.
Freshman Kennedy McGaha (78-71=149) made a late push by carding three birdies during the second round and sits in a four-way deadlock for 11th place, with Freeman (76-76=152) sharing 19th place. Senior Victoria Hall and freshman Zoey Iglesias are tied for 23rd after notching 153s on the day. Senior Kerington Lamb is tied for 50th place after posting a two-round 160.
"Emma [Charles] and Jessica [Rathbone] were absolutely outstanding today," concluded Moore. "That's why they are both in the top-3 in this extremely tough field. They drove it well, ball struck it well and chipped and putted well. You do that, and it's going to be good. Zoey [Iglesias] was very strong in her opening round as a Trojan. She started off +3 after two holes, then shook the nerves and played the next 16 holes one-under. Very proud of that. Kennedy [McGaha] played as an individual, but extremely excited about her second round of 71, and even her two-round total of 149. Very solid start to her Trojan career. Anna Freeman played as an individual as well and was steady today."
The third and final round is slated to get underway on Tuesday.
