The Chattanooga Mocs women’s golf team finished ninth in a strong field at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate. It was a solid day with the 6-over par 290 final round ranking tied for the fifth-best of the day.
“This is the most impressed that I've been with my team in a long time,” coach Colette Murray said. “I'm really excited about how this team is going to develop. Ninth doesn’t look great, but with the caliber of teams above and below us, it’s an acceptable start.”
The Mocs shot 874 over the 54 holes, the best season-opening total in school history.
It was two behind North Carolina in eighth and five clear of Wake Forest and Ole Miss which tied for 10th.
Freshman Holly Morgan and junior Cristina Perez led the way today with level-par 71s. Perez propelled the Mocs inside the top 10 with birdies on eight and nine, her final two holes of the shotgun start. Freshman Maddy McDanel posted 2-over par 73 with sophomore Monica San Juan chipping in 75. Junior Megan Woods had the drop score of 77, while Maria Pineiro turned in 75 playing as an individual.
Morgan started her day with three bogeys in her first five holes to stand at +2 through seven. She played -2 the rest of the way with birdies on the par 5 16th (8th hole of the day) and the par 5 fourth (No. 14) surrounded by nine pars.
“This is a sign of things to come from Holly,” Murray continued. “She's a great player. I think she feels like she's in the right place, and we're both excited about where her golf has come in a few weeks.
“She's going to be a huge contributor to this team's success.”
Likewise, Perez also got off to a slow start with a bogey and a double in her first three holes. Back-to-back birdies at 15 and 16, her sixth and seventh hole, got her back to +1. One bogey was sandwiched by pars until she reached the par eighth ending with two birdies to finish E.
“That’s a good example of the leadership of our returning group,” stated Murray. “We've really learned to persevere and battle to the end. The growth of this team in a year is remarkable. It's great to show the younger ones how you can contribute when maybe the ‘A’ game isn’t there.”
Morgan’s 5-over 218 tied for 23rd overall. The 218 is the best total recorded by a freshman in their first college event at UTC, second-best by a newcomer to the program. She bounced back from an opening-round 77 (+6) to play 1 under the remaining 36 holes.
“I’m really happy with my freshmen,” Murray added. “They're settling in well. They responded well to their first college tournament…just really pleased.”
Woods and Perez tied for 29th one shot back at 6-over 219. San Juan’s 222 tied for 38th, while McDanel ended at 232. Pineiro, whose 69 over her first 18 is the best opening round to a Mocs career, matched Perez and Woods in 29th at 3 over.
Florida (850) won the team title by five shots over 36-hole leader Illinois (855) and defending champion Kent State (855). Pimnipa Panthong (Kent) won medalist honors at 8-under 205. Florida’s Kelly Grassel was runner-up at -5.
It’s a quick turnaround for the Mocs who return to the tee Friday. The three-day, 54-hole, Mason Rudolph Championships await with 18 holes per day completing the event on Sunday. The event is played at the Vanderbilt Legends Club in Franklin, Tenn.
This weekend’s lineup features Morgan, Perez, Woods, Pineiro and San Juan with McDanel playing as an individual.
“That was the plan we set going into the tournament,” Murray concluded. “The top 5 finishers qualified for Vanderbilt with the sixth getting another opportunity as an individual. It’s a very competitive, respectful atmosphere.
“I like the way we’ve come together early on as a team.”