DAHLONEGA, Ga. – On the strength of a school record-tying, three-round 867 and with five players finishing in the top-15, the Anderson women's golf team won their second LeeAnn Noble Memorial title, Tuesday afternoon at the 5,934 yard, par-72 Achasta Golf Club.
The two-day, 54-hole tournament, which was hosted by North Georgia, featured thirteen schools that were either ranked or receiving votes in the latest Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) Top-25.
"We're so proud of the girls this week!" said Anderson Head Women's Coach Denton Moore. "It was just a fantastic team effort. They have been pushing each other hard at home in practice, in the weight room, and on the course. It paid off in full this week. They were all rock-solid from the first hole to the 54th hole. These girls are getting used to winning, and that's a fun thing to watch. Kennedy McGaha and Jessica Rathbone once again showed why they are All-Americans. They were super-consistent all week, and that's why they both finished in the top-5 on the all-tournament team. Zoey Iglesias and Kerington Lamb were both exactly what you would expect from veteran players - both were consistent each round. Aly Francis was fantastic in her debut in the lineup for us. We really can't ask for much more from her in her first event with the team depending on her. Kennedy Gooding has been rock-solid for us so far this season as a freshman. Although she struggled in the opening round, I just can't say enough about how she bounced back with 71-73 to bring this win home for us."
The nationally sixth-ranked Trojans had a six-shot lead over No. 9 Lee following Monday's opening two rounds and widened the lead to a dozen strokes midway through the final 18 holes before claiming a nine-shot victory over fourth-ranked Findlay, which slipped past the Flames on Tuesday to take home runner-up honors.
No. 17 Columbus State moved up one spot to finish fourth, with No. 11 Limestone slipping into the fifth spot. No. 22 Florida Southern jumped two spots into sixth place, while West Florida and North Georgia finished seventh and eighth, respectively.
UNC Pembroke and 20th-ranked Lander each moved up two spots into ninth and 10th, with Wingate sliding four spots into a tie for 11th place, alongside Lincoln Memorial. Carson-Newman, Converse and West Georgia finished out the 16-team field.
Wingate's Hailey McLaughlin (68-74-71=213) broke away from a four-way tie atop the leaderboard following Monday's second round to edge Limestone's Karla Lagerstrom (75-67-73=215) and Anderson sophomore Kennedy McGaha (73-72-70=215), who climbed seven spots on Tuesday to share the runner-up spot.
Trojan junior Jessica Rathbone (69-73-74=216) and Lee's Hannah Nall (72-71-73=216), who were tied with McLaughlin and Lagerstrom entering the final round, finished in a deadlock for fourth place, just three shots behind.
AU sophomore Zoey Iglesias finished alone in 11th place behind a season-best 219, with grad student Kerington Lamb claiming a share of 12th place. Freshman Aly Francis grabbed a share of 15th place, while classmate Kennedy Gooding continued her climb up the leaderboard and finished in a four-way tie for 31st place.
"It was an exceptional effort all the way around this week," added Moore. "I also can't say how important it was to have Coach Neal back out there. When we have both of us there, it makes life so much easier and really allows me to coach the way I like to. I love to constantly roam the course, and he allows me to do that freely, and then on top of that he is there to keep me in check and give the advice the girls need. Seeing two of us is huge for the girls. This was a big-time victory for the girls, and a great way to head into our last event of the fall in Tampa. I can't tell you how proud of this crew I am. Great job!"
Following a five-day layoff, the Trojans will wrap up their fall schedule by competing at the St. Leo Invitational in Dade City, Fla.
Notables
• The Trojans' three-round 867 equaled the school-record, which was set at last year's LeeAnn Noble Memorial.
• The Trojans have won 12 tournament titles since 2017.
• AU earned its second LeeAnn Noble Memorial Championship, after finishing fourth a year ago and also winning the team title in 2018.
• Lee University has claimed three LeeAnn Noble Championships (2015, 2017 and 2020).
• Shorter won the inaugural title in 2014, while Montevallo (2016), Columbus State (2019) and Limestone (2021) have also won the tournament titles over the past six years.
• AU's second- and third-round 578 marked the fourth-lowest 36-hole score in school history.
• AU's second-round 287 matched the third-lowest 18-holes in program history.
• AU's first-round 289 matched the seventh-lowest 18-holes in program history.
• The Trojans' first- and second-round 576 matched the third-lowest 36-hole score in school history
• The Trojans' third-round 291 matched the 11th-best score in program history.
• McGaha's three-round 215 matched the fourth-lowest 54-hole score in program history.
• McGaha's second- and third-round 142 matched the sixth-lowest 36-hole score in school history.
• Rathbone's three-round 216 matched the eighth-best 54-hole score in program history.
• Rathbone's first-round 69 matched the seventh-best single-round score in program history.
• Rathbone's first- and second-round 142 matched the sixth-lowest 36-hole score in school history.
1 Anderson 289 287 291 867
T2 Kennedy McGaha (2) 73 72 70 215
T4 Jessica Rathbone (1) 69 73 74 216
T12 Kerington Lamb (5) 74 72 74 220
T15 Aly Francis (4) 73 72 76 221
T31 Kennedy Gooding (3) 82 71 73 226
Teams Scores
1 Anderson 289 287 291 867 +3
2 Findlay 298 293 285 876 +12
3 Lee 294 289 299 882 +18
4 Columbus State 304 293 294 891 +27
5 Limestone 301 292 299 892 +28
6 Florida Southern 296 309 297 902 +38
7 West Florida 306 293 304 903 +39
8 North Georgia 308 300 297 905 +41
9 UNC Pembroke 305 305 297 907 +43
10 Lander 311 302 296 909 +45
T11 Wingate 304 300 307 911 +47
T11 Lincoln Memorial 304 310 297 911 +47
13 Lenoir-Rhyne 311 305 297 913 +49
14 Carson-Newman 304 304 314 922 +58
15 Converse 311 314 302 927 +63
16 West Georgia 324 317 292 933 +69
