DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Rallying behind the best round as a team of the tournament, the nationally seventh ranked Anderson University women's golf team took home the team title at the LeeAnn Noble Memorial Tournament hosted by the University of North Georgia at Achasta Golf Club on October 9-10.
The Trojans turned in a final round of 282, a six-under round, to finish the tournament at even par, tied for the third best round in program history. The 864 posted as their final team score sits alone in second all-time in 54-hole team scores. They started the day trailing Findlay by nine strokes.
"Just so incredibly proud of all the girls this week! That was a fantastic team win," said head coach Denton Moore. "Everyone was a huge part of getting the job done this week. I have so much respect for Dom Guarneri and his program at Findlay, I felt like they were the best team in the country coming into the week. To track down a team like that is that something that makes me extremely proud, this was not an easy task and the girls handed it with ease."
Sophomore Kennedy Gooding (Lexington, S.C.) turned in the top-performance for the Black and Gold as she finished in second on the individual leaderboard, shooting rounds of 70-73-71 to finish two-under for the event. Fellow sophomore Aly Francis (Stockbridge, Ga.) posted rounds of 71-74-70 to finish just one stroke behind Gooding and in third place overall in the tournament.
"This was absolutely a team win, and you don't win a tournament like this without everyone. Kennedy Gooding and Aly Francis were so good and consistent this week. They have both finished All-Tournament two events in a row."
Junior Kennedy McGaha (Honea Path, S.C.), competing individually at the tournament, shot a second-round 67, tied for the fourth best in program history, to jump up the leaderboard and finish even-par on the week in a tie for fourth. Junior Zoey Iglesias (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) continued to provide consistent scoring for the Trojans as she finished in a tie for seventh at two-over, shooting rounds of 74-71-73.
"Kennedy McGaha was absolutely fantastic this week, she looked like the All-American that she is and the player that won in Greenwood at the beginning of the season. Zoey Iglesias continues to be the most consistent player on our team. So proud of her this week."
Senior Jessica Rathbone (Montpelier, Va.) finished in a tie for tenth place in the field as she fired rounds of 79-70-71. Sophomore Paige Paolucci (Blythewood, S.C.) got better each round of the tournament to solidify her 25th place finish with rounds of 79-76-70. The other individual competing in the tournament for the Trojans, freshman Yvette Gorden (Montgomery, Ala.) finished in a tie for 70th in the field.
"Jess struggled in the first round, but man did she bounce back with All-American rounds two and three. Paige was so good today in the final round when we absolutely had to have her. Yvette is continuing to make strides and I'm really proud of her. Again, just a phenomenal team effort and I'm so proud of all seven of these girls."
"It was great to finally have Austin Castles, who has been on the road with our men's team, with us this week. He's been an incredible addition to our program and I'm so thankful to have him. His being there allowed us to be so much more effective as a coaching staff. We don't get this done without him."
Anderson heads to the Sunshine State next week as they travel to Dade City, Fla. to take part in the Saint Leo Invitational on October 16-17.
"We are going to enjoy this one for about 24 hours, it deserves to be celebrated. But we have to finish this fall season next week in Tapa at the St. Leo Invitational. These girls have worked so hard, and I can't wait to go to war with them for one more week before they get some much-needed time off. "
