DADE CITY, Fla. – In arguably the strongest field that they have seen all semester, the Anderson University women's golf team turned in a runner-up performance at the 2023 Saint Leo Invitational at the Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club on October 16-17.
"I'm extremely happy with this second-place finish down here. Anytime we come to Florida, we have to play good," said head coach Denton Moore. "These teams won't come up to play us, so we must come down to them and that puts a lot of pressure on these trips. The girls did a great job sticking to the game plan this week, and the results showed that. There were some extremely tough conditions this week, especially yesterday."
The Trojans took home the runner-up spot in the tournament with an overall 882 (+18), nine strokes ahead of the third-place team. Nova Southeastern, the national runners-up from last season, took home the team trophy.
"Sometimes you just have to tip your cap to the other team and Nova had a phenomenal week. I can't imagine they don't debut as the top team in the country when the polls come out."
Junior Kennedy McGaha (Honea Path, S.C.) took home third place individually, being named to the All-Tournament team. She shot rounds of 73-71-73 on the week to finish just one-over par. Senior Jessica Rathbone (Montpelier, Va.) finished in a tie for seventh place on the week, carding a five-over tournament with rounds of 75-72-74.
"Kennedy was awesome this week. She has had a phenomenal fall and she capped it off with another top-3 finish and another All-Tournament team. She is playing like the All-American that she is. Jess was fantastic this week as well. We got exactly what you expect from a three-time All-American. She was consistent and took care of business with a rock-solid top-10 performance."
Sophomore Aly Francis (Stockbridge, Ga.) shot up the leaderboard with her third-round performance, jumping up 19 places to finish in a tie for 12th. She got better each round firing 77-75-72. Also tying for 12th in the tournament was junior Zoey Iglesias (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) who had an amazing second round score of two-under to help solidify her placement. She was able to record rounds of 79-70-75.
"Aly has been on an absolute tear these last three events. We have really challenged her to finish rounds, and she has responded with three top-12 finishes in a row. I'm very proud of her. Zoey has been our most consistent player this fall. She hasn't finished outside of the top-12 in any event. She had been so steady; we really can't ask for any better from her."
Sophomore Kennedy Gooding (Lexington, S.C.) rounded out the team scoring for the Trojans on the week with a nine-over week shooting 75 in every round of the tournament. Sophomore Paige Paolucci (Blythewood, S.C.) and freshman Yvette Gorden (Montgomery, Ala.) finished 24th and 30th, respectively, as they competed as individuals this week for the Trojans.
"KG has been great as well all fall. She didn't have her best stuff from a ball striking aspect this week, but man did she grind out some impressive rounds giving us everything she had. Paige and Yvette were so solid in the individual spots. Really proud of their effort this week."
Anderson completed their fall season with this tournament and will now focus on the spring season that kicks off in February at the Lady Moc Classic.
"We had an amazing fall season. We closed out with three wins and two runner-up finishes. We only lost to one program all fall. I could not be more excited about the way the girls took care of business this fall. I will be floored if they don't debut nationally ranked in the top-5. We have won events with all seven of them in the lineup this fall, I don't believe there is a team in the country that is deeper 1-7 than Anderson. I am so blessed with a great ground that loves to compete. I can't wait to give these girls a week off when we get home! They have absolutely earned it and deserve it. After that, it will be time to focus on another SAC Championship and making another run at the Natty in the spring. Go Trojans!"
