LAKELAND, Fla. – Behind senior Kerington Lamb's school-record, 6-under-par-66 in Tuesday's final round, the sixth-ranked Anderson women's golf team moved up one spot to finish as runners-up, while Lamb also claimed a share of second place on the individual side, Tuesday at Florida Southern's Lady Moc Classic, Monday.
The two-day, 54-hole tournament was hosted at the Grasslands Golf and Country Club on a par-72, 6100 yard layout.
Playing in a 15-team field that was arguably the strongest of the year and certainly since the season-opening South Region Preview in mid-September, the Trojans made up a four stroke deficit and moved past ninth-ranked Nova Southeastern to claim the runner-up spot, behind just nationally top-ranked Lynn. The tourney field included 10 teams that received votes or were ranked inside last November's Mizuno WGCA Coaches Top-25 Poll.
Third-ranked Limestone moved up one spot to finish fourth, with Florida Southern and Barry finishing in a tie for fifth place. No. 20 Tampa slipped two spots and finished seventh, with Rollins claiming eighth place. West Florida took home ninth place. Saint Leo and Flagler finished in a deadlock for 10th place, while Embry-Riddle was 12th. North Georgia, Eckerd and Palm Beach Atlantic finished out the field.
"Today was a program defining moment," said Anderson Associate Head Coach Denton Moore. "I think people have been trying to figure out if we were a flash in the pan type team back in the fall. I think everyone knows Anderson University Golf is here to stay. We played against the absolute best in the nation today, and we did more than hold our own. Second place in this field is outstanding. I am so proud of all the girls. It was full team effort, and everyone did their part."
AU also claimed second place at the South Region Preview, then won the Patsy Rendleman Invitational three weeks later.
Saint Leo's Francesca Santoni claimed individual medalist honors with a three-round, 3-under-par 213 and finished three shots in front of Lamb, Nova Southeastern's Ellen Andersson and Palm Beach Atlantic's Mackenzie McCormack.
Lamb vaulted 24 spots up the leaderboard by surpassing her previous career-best (222) by six strokes with a 54-hole 216, while senior Anna Freeman jumped nine spots with a final round 1-under-par 71 and finished in a tie for 12th place, alongside freshman Kennedy McGaha.
Iglesias finished one shot further back in a tie for 14th, with sophomore Jessica Rathbone claiming a share of 27th place. Senior Victoria Hall moved up three spots and finished in a tie for 39th place, while Emma Charles moved up 10 spots and claimed a share of 49th place.
"Kerington (Lamb), my goodness, I don't even have words for that 66 today," added Moore. "And her individual second place was stress free. She absolutely put the ball wherever she wanted today. She putted like a machine. It was bogey free and it was awesome. Anna (Freeman) was absolutely fantastic today as well. She was locked in all day, and she chipped and putted fantastic all week. Jessica (Rathbone), Kennedy (McGaha), and Victoria (Hall) all grinded for 18 holes to help bring that round home for us today. I am just so proud of this effort, and this team. They have worked so hard this winter in such poor weather. All the grinding in cold, wind, and rain, and even some snow has really paid off. This team has shown they have the ability to compete for the national title. I'm very excited to see this season play out, and watch these girls continue to get better! Go Trojans!"
The Trojans will get back on the links at next week's Low Tide Intercollegiate, which will be hosted by Limestone at the Dunes West Golf Club in Charleston.
NOTABLES
• Lamb's three-round 216 tied the tournament record for low individual round (Tampa's Kiira Riihijarvi shot a 66 for round 2 in 2020).
• Lamb's 66 set a school record for 18 holes.
• Lamb's three-round 216 matched the fifth-lowest 54-hole score in program history.
• The three-round 877 is the second-best 54-hole score in program history.
• The final-round 287 matched the second-best round in program history.
• The second round and third round combined 583 marked the third-best two-round score in program history.
• Lamb's second and third-round 142 matched the program's second-best score for 36 holes.
• The opening-round 294 matched the 11th-best round for 18 holes in program history.
• The first and second-round 590 matched the seventh-best score for 36 holes in program history.
• McGaha's second-round 69 matched the second-lowest round of her career and the fifth-best score in program history.
• Freeman's opening-round 72 marked her best round of the season and her two-round (2nd and 3rd) 148 marked her best two-round score of the year.
• Freeman and McGaha's 54-hole 220 tied the ninth-best score for a three-round tournament.
• Iglesias' second-round 72 marked the lowest round of her career.
• Iglesias' three-round 221 tied the program record for 10th-best 54-hole score.
• Rathbone's three-round 224 marked the program's 16th-best 54-hole score.
2 Anderson 294 296 287 877
T2 Kerington Lamb 74 76 66 216
T12 Kennedy McGaha 73 69 78 220
T12 Anna Freeman 72 77 71 220
T14 Zoey Iglesias 75 72 74 221
T27 Jessica Rathbone 75 75 74 224
T39 Victoria Hall 77 76 76 229
T49 Emma Charles 79 77 75 231
Team Scores
1 Lynn 293 291 285 869 +5
2 Anderson 294 296 287 877 +13
3 Nova Southeastern 292 294 299 885 +21
4 Limestone 298 302 288 888 +24
T5 Florida Southern 299 301 290 890 +26
T5 Barry 301 295 294 890 +26
7 Tampa 304 296 297 897 +33
8 Rollins 303 298 297 898 +34
9 West Florida 301 311 305 917 +53
T10 Saint Leo 306 306 306 918 +54
T10 Flagler 311 300 307 918 +54
12 Embry-Riddle 304 307 322 933 +69
13 North Georgia 306 314 316 936 +72
14 Eckerd 320 322 316 958 +94
15 Palm Beach Atlantic 332 324 317 973 +109
COMPLETE RESULTS
