GREENWOOD, S.C. – Behind the team's sixth-lowest three-round score in program history and with sophomore Zoey Iglesias matching her season-low with an even-par 216, the Anderson women's golf team wrapped up the regular season with a first-place finish, Tuesday afternoon at Lander's Lady Bearcat Invitational.
The two-day, 54-hole event featured a par 72, 5,976 yard layout at the at the Greenwood Country Club.
"I am so proud of this team this week!" said Anderson Head Women's Coach Denton Moore. "They really played well and did it all on empty tanks of gas. Kentucky last week really took it out of them. But they made no excuses, and showed up in Greenwood ready to execute and win again. They did a phenomenal job of sticking to the plan and making pars. We knew the course was going to be wet, sloppy, and difficult. They executed to perfection."
The nationally fifth-ranked Trojans out-distanced 12th-ranked and runner-up Lee by 16 shots, while North Georgia finished a distant third. The host Bearcats claimed fourth place, with 16th-ranked Wingate and Columbus State finishing fifth and sixth, respectively. West Georgia wrapped up the three-round event in seventh place, with Converse claiming eighth. Belmont Abbey and Lander (B) finished tied for ninth place, with Lenoir-Rhyne and USC Beaufort sharing 11th place.
Newberry finished in 13th place, while Coastal Georgia finished in the 14th slot. Coker, Tusculum Erskine, King, North Greenville and Young Harris rounded out the large 20-team field.
USC Beaufort's Ashleigh Mead claimed individual medalist honors by just one stroke over a trio of challengers, including AU's Iglesias. The Port St. Lucie, Fla., native parlayed eight birdies over the two days into a three-round 216, which matched her season low from the Saint Leo Invitational in mid-October.
North Georgia's Madeline Ananthasane and Lee's Supuschaya Srichantamit finished alongside Iglesias, while AU's Kerington Lamb and freshman Paige Paolucci shared fifth place – just two strokes out of the top spot.
Junior Jessica Rathbone finished in a four-way tie for eighth, with freshman Kennedy Gooding claiming a share of 13th place. Sophomore Kennedy McGaha rounded out the Trojan contingent in a tie for 28th place.
"What made this week so awesome was we showed our depth," added Moore. "Our depth is why we are a top-five program and a national title contender. We depend on Jess and K Mac a lot, and they have high expectations for themselves. They are All-Americans, and that's what they do. But even All- Americans have off weeks. They were still huge in this win, and both played massive roles each day. But Zoey Iglesias, Kerington Lamb, and Kennedy Gooding were so good this week. They played excellent each day and won this tournament for us. Paige Paolucci played excellent as an individual also. She had a great top-5 performance, and has had an excellent spring season. I am so proud of the effort from all six of them. This win again took guts this week, and was also a complete team victory. Those are always the most satisfying as a coach for sure."
The Trojans will look to defend their South Atlantic Conference Championship next week when the 12 teams from the SAC tee it up, Sunday at Cobb's Glen Country Club in Anderson.
"This team has been so good all year," said Moore. "I have to believe that by winning five of our eight events this is the best regular season in AU women's golf history. We added a second and a third in there as well. We have an amazing group of eight fabulous young ladies. We will now take a couple days off and then get geared up for the SAC Championship starting this weekend. We will look to defend our title on our home turf, and I can't wait to get out there with the girls again! Go Trojans!"
Notables
• The Trojans' three-round 873 equaled the sixth-lowest 54-hole score in program history.
• AU's first-round 288 matched the eighth-lowest round in program history.
• The Trojans' second-round 289 matched the 12th-best round in program history.
• AU's first- and second-round 577 equaled the seventh-lowest two-round score in school history.
• Lamb's first- and second-round 142 matched the eighth-best score in program history.
1 Anderson 288 289 296 873
T2 Zoey Iglesias (3) 72 73 71 216
T5 Kerington Lamb (4) 71 71 75 217
T5 Paige Paolucci 74 72 71 217
T8 Jessica Rathbone (1) 72 71 77 220
13 Kennedy Gooding (5) 75 74 73 222
T28 Kennedy McGaha (2) 73 79 77 229
Teams Scores
1 Anderson 288 289 296 873 +9
2 Lee 292 298 299 889 +25
3 North Georgia 301 299 296 896 +32
4 Lander 298 305 298 901 +37
5 Wingate 305 297 300 902 +38
6 Columbus State 296 299 308 903 +39
7 West Georgia 306 305 302 913 +49
8 Converse 307 311 315 933 +69
T9 Lander (B) 313 308 315 936 +72
T9 Belmont Abbey 312 312 312 936 +72
T11 Lenoir-Rhyne 314 314 314 942 +78
T11 USC Beaufort 318 306 318 942 +78
13 Newberry 324 310 310 944 +80
14 Coastal Georgia 321 318 308 947 +83
15 Coker 316 325 310 951 +87
T16 Tusculum 330 322 321 973 +109
T16 Erskine 317 332 324 973 +109
18 King 328 335 318 981 +117
19 North Greenville 337 330 329 996 +132
20 Young Harris 352 344 347 1043 +179
