SALISBURY, N.C. – Behind a school record 6-over-par 582, the Anderson women's golf team saw all seven players finish in the top-23 and earned its first victory of the season and fourth win over the past two seasons by finishing first at the 2021 at the Patsy Rendleman Invitational.
Catawba hosted the 36-hole event at the 5,930 yard, par-72 Country Club of Salisbury.
"We were really excited to win the Patsy Rendleman," said Anderson Associate Head Coach Denton Moore. "One of the hardest things to do in golf is be expected to win, and then actually show up and do it. The girls did a really solid job of getting it done today. It was nowhere near our best golf over the last two days, but I'm excited to see us grinding and working through it even when it's not our best. I was really proud of all the girls' effort this week. We have a lot to work on this week before we head to Dahlonega for serious test. It was a great team W, and again team depth won this tournament. It allowed us to dominate because we don't have any weak links, and they all play for each other. Very proud of this crew this week."
After equaling the second-best score for a single round in program history on Monday, the Trojans more than doubled their eight-shot lead and won their first Rendleman Invitational title in 10 appearances after notching the eighth lowest round in program history on Tuesday.
Wingate moved up one spot and Lenoir-Rhyne vaulted five spots, as the Bulldogs and Bears shared second place. Lander finished fourth, with Queens slipping three spots and finishing fifth. Erskine and Tusculum finished in a tie for sixth, with King and Mount Olive claiming eighth and ninth, respectively.
Young Harris and North Greenville shared 10th place, with Catawba and Barton rounding out the 13-team field.
Erskine's Amanda Guzman followed up Monday's first-round 4-under-par 68, with an identical performance in Tuesday's final round and defeated Queens' Charleigh Hodges by six strokes. AU freshman Zoey Iglesias set a program record by slashing nine strokes off her opening round 76 and firing a 5-under-par 67 – the best score of the tournament – en route to a third-place finish. The Port St. Lucie, Fla., native began the final round in 13th place.
Senior Victoria Hall followed up Monday's 1-under 71 with a 1-over 73 and moved up two spots to finish in a five-way tie for fourth place, alongside Kerington Lamb, who also fired a two-round 144.
Newcomer Kennedy McGaha finished with a 2-over 146 and finished 10th, with sophomore Jessica Rathbone finishing with a 4-over 148 and moving up fice spots to share 13th place. Senior Anna Freeman finished in a tie for 19th, with junior Emma Charles claiming a share of 23rd place.
"Victoria (Hall) and Kerington (Lamb) were both fantastic this week," Moore added. "They did a really solid job managing their games, and it led them both to top-5 All-Tournament Team finishes. Kennedy (McGaha) was awesome for her first time in the lineup. It was a great effort from her. Jessica (Rathbone) and Emma (Charles) were very gritty both days. They really didn't have their best stuff, but executed a lot around the greens and made some timely birdies. Anna (Freeman) played as an individual and was steady as usual over the two days. Zoey (Iglesias) played as an individual and was absolutely spectacular on day two. And we are extremely thankful for Coach Miller's help again this week. He makes my job so easy. He is fantastic with the girls and does a phenomenal job out there. If he decides he wants to coach college golf, he is going to be a very good coach."
The Trojans are scheduled to return to the links next week for North Georgia's LeeAnn Noble Memorial.
1 Anderson 288 294 582 +6
3 Zoey Iglesias* 76 67 143 -1
T 4 Kerington Lamb 70 74 144 E
T 4 Victoria Hall 71 73 144 E
10 Kennedy McGaha 72 74 146 +2
T 13 Jessica Rathbone 75 73 148 +4
T 19 Anna Freeman* 73 78 151 +7
T 23 Emma Charles 76 77 153 +9
Pos. School Rnd 1 Rnd 2 Total To Par
1 Anderson 288 294 582 +6
2 Wingate 297 302 599 +23
Lenoir-Rhyne 305 294 599 +23
4 Lander 297 303 600 +24
5 Queens 296 308 604 +28
6 Erskine 302 305 607 +31
Tusculum 304 303 607 +31
8 King 306 311 617 +41
9 Mount Olive 307 323 630 +54
10 Young Harris 311 322 633 +57
North Greenville 320 313 633 +57
12 Catawba 328 327 655 +79
13 Barton 334 346 680 +104
