SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Senior Braiden Furtick fired a two-day total 157 and finished just three shots behind to lead the Anderson women's golf team, as the Trojans won the Converse Spring Invitational by Founders FCU by one shot over Queens University of Charlotte on Tuesday at the par 72, 5881-yard Carolina Country Club layout.
The Trojans (319-321=640) began the final round just two strokes behind King (317-339=656), which faltered and finished in fifth place, while Queens (320-321=641) edged up one spot to claim second overall. Anderson also held off a final-round charge by Wingate (329-314=643), which vaulted from eighth to third. Converse A (322-328=650) held on to the fourth spot, with Tusculum (325-332=657) finishing sixth. Milligan (325-344=669) claimed seventh place, with Erskine (325-355=680) and Pfeiffer (332-348=680) finishing tied for eighth.
Lenoir-Rhyne (344-354=698), Coker (341-362=703), Belmont Abbey (350-368=718), Converse B (358-373=731), Barton (361-378=739), Brevard (403-414=817) and Spartanburg Methodist (396-425=821) rounded out the 16-team field.
Erskine's Krysta Schaus overcame a three-shot deficit following Monday's opening round to claim individual medalist honors after firing a two-day total 154, while Wingate's Mikaela Hadaway finished second, just one shot behind. Converse's Ansley Vaughan was third, with Queens' Kylie Nizolek placing fourth.
Furtick posted her highest finish of the season by sharing fifth place, while freshman Makalyn Poole trimmed six strokes off her opening-round effort and finished in a tie for seventh with a 158. Sophomore Riley Lovorn was three shots further back in 15th place after slashing seven shots off Monday's first round and carding a 161.
Freshman Tiffany Elam (164) shared 17th place, while fellow freshman Blake Hodges finished in a tie for 36th. Classmate Samantha Ellison rounded out the Trojan effort in a tie for 80th.
The victory marked the AU women's golf team's first title since winning the 2006 Upstate College Classic at the Cherokee National Golf Course in nearby Gaffney, S.C.
The Trojans are slated to get back on the links at the Hilton Head Lakes Invitational, will be hosted by Pfeiffer, March 7-8, in Bluffton, S.C.
Converse Spring Invite by Founders FCU
Dates: Feb 22-23, 2016
Carolina Country Club • Spartanburg, S.C.
Par 72, 5881 yards
Fin. Team Scores Total Par
1 . Anderson University 319 321 640 +64
2 . Queens (N.C.) 320 321 641 +65
3 . Wingate 329 314 643 +67
4 . Converse A 322 328 650 +74
5 . King University 317 339 656 +80
6 . Tusculum 325 332 657 +81
7 . Milligan 325 344 669 +93
T 8. Erskine 325 355 680 +104
T 8. Pfeiffer 332 348 680 +104
1 0 . Lenoir Rhyne 344 354 698 +122
1 1 . Coker 341 362 703 +127
1 2 . Belmont Abbey 350 368 718 +142
1 3 . Converse B 358 373 731 +155
1 4 . Barton 361 378 739 +163
1 5 . Brevard 403 414 817 +241
1 6 . Spartanburg Methodist 396 425 821 +245
Anderson University 319 321 640 +64 1st
Braiden Furtick 75 82 157 +13 t-5th
Makalyn Poole 82 76 158 +14 t-7th
Riley Lovorn 84 77 161 +17 15th
Tiffany Elam 78 86 164 +20 t-17th
Blake Hodges 86 86 172 +28 t-36th
Samantha Ellison#97 104 201 +57 t-80th
All-Tournament Team
1 . Krysta Schaus Erskine 76 78 154 +10
T 2. MiKaela Hadaway Wingate 81 74 155 +11
T 2. Ansley Vaughan Converse A 76 79 155 +11
4 . Nizolek, Kylie Queens (N.C.)76 80 156 +12
T 5. Braiden Furtick Anderson 75 82 157 +13
T 5. Angela Luna Coker 77 80 157 +13
