ANDERSON, S.C. -- Anderson University women's golf travels to Kentucky next week (March 18-19) for the Findlay Spring Invite hosted at Boone's Trace National Golf Club.
"We are always excited about this event in Kentucky this week," said head coach Denton Moore. "Findlay still uses the old Covid format where the starting 5 and both coaches get to be with each other all 54 holes. I don't know that I would love to do it every event, but it is so much fun to all play together for one event. It's one of those tournaments where if momentum gets going, and the girls start to feed off each other, it can be a lot of fun. It can also go south the other way. We have stressed to the girls to stay even keel, support each other, and be positive. If we do that, we think it will be a good week."
Representing the Trojans will be No. 8 Kennedy McGaha (Honea Path, S.C.), No. 43 Kennedy Gooding (Lexington, S.C.), No. 48 Jessica Rathbone (Montpelier, Va.), No. 56 Aly Francis (Stockbridge, Ga.) and No. 65 Paige Paolucci (Blythewood, S.C.).
Junior Zoey Iglesias (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) and freshman Yvette Gorden (Montgomery, Ala.) will be competing as individuals.
"The starting 5 this week will be K Mac, Jess, KG, Aly, and P. Zoey and Vette will be playing as individuals. As we head to the postseason, each event becomes more important as we start to form our lineup for conference, regionals, and hopefully the national championship. We have 6 players ranked inside the top 60 nationally, and all 7 ranked inside the top 250."
The Black and Gold currently sit at No. 6 in the Clippd National Rankings and No. 4 in the Women's Golf Coaches Association Poll. AU will again be in the field with one of its biggest competitors this season—the hosting team, Findlay. The Oilers sit just ahead of the Trojans in both the Clippd Rankings and WGCA Poll.
"The conditions this week look to be pretty brutal. It looks like 40 degrees is the high Monday on our 36-hole day, with 10-20 mph winds. We always try to get the girls to embrace tough conditions, because tough teams that do that usually end up at the top of the leaderboard. We have a great chance to play some northern teams we don't see very often that present a great challenge. We are very excited to tee it up with Findlay who we see a good bit and is a top 5 program. Indianapolis and Grand Valley St will be there as well who are top 10 and top 15 teams. It will be a great challenge, and so will the conditions. It will take a great mental mindset to compete this week. We have the best team in the country in my mind to do that."
Following the weekend, the Trojans travel back to Lakeland, Fla. April 1-2 for the last tournament of the regular season, with South Atlantic Conference Championships April 14-16.
"We are as deep as anyone in the country. Austin and I can't wait to go back to work this week with the girls, battle the conditions, and go trophy hunting! Go Trojans!"
