The Chattanooga Mocs finished the 2024 Chattanooga Classic in ninth place. The ladies shot 304 on a cold, wet day at Council Fire Golf Club. The 867 total was three behind North Florida in eighth and two clear of UTSA in 10th.
Kera Healey paced a consistent grouping with 75. Violeta Fernandez-Tagle, Makenzie Cooper and Nieves Martin all shot 76. Giulia Foresta was one shot behind at 77. Alexis Daniel had 77 playing as an individual ahead of Imogen Rafferty’s 80. Carmen Belmonte was forced to withdraw with an injury.
Fernandez-Tagle was low for the tourney tying for 15th with 218.
It’s the first time this spring she finished outside the top 10. Cooper and Healey had matching 225s ahead of Martin with 226 and Foresta with 227. Daniel shot 222, while Rafferty came in at 231.
"We had two great days and one that was just not favorable with the weather," Coach Colette Murray shared. "This was obviously a disappointing finish for our home tournament. I've been saying how we see it coming.
"I need to keep reminding myself that we're young. We do continue to grow and get better every single day. Today was a day that feels like a gut punch, but I know our players feel that as much as Sarah (asst. coach Busey) and I. We know we've got the right people on this team."
Michigan swept the team and individual titles. The Wolverines tallied 855 to top Western Kentucky by six strokes. Monet Chun was medalist with a tournament and course record of 203, 10-under par. Runner-up Melanie Green from South Florida also topped the record with 205.
The Mocs are back on the tee Sunday at the Southern Conference Championships. The event returns to Hilton Head and Moss Creek Golf Club with the south course back center stage. The 3-day, 54-hole event ends on Tuesday.
Chattanooga Classic
April 7-9 (S-T) | Chattanooga, Tenn.| Format: 54 holes (18 per day)
Council Fire G.C. | Par 71 | 5,955 yards
Leaderboard
1) Michigan: 299-271-285=855 (+3)
2) Western Kentucky: 291-282-288=861 (+9)
3) South Florida: 294-276-293=863 (+11)
4) Colorado State: 296-296-276=868 (+16)
tie) Campbell: 295-286-287=868 (+16)
6) ETSU: 290-286-301=877 (+25)
7) Iowa: 306-290-286=882 (+30)
8) North Florida: 294-287-303=884 (+32)
9) Chattanooga: 295-288-304=887 (+35)
10) UTSA: 297-288-304=889 (+37)
11) Xavier: 300-292-302=894 (+42)
12) Yale: 303-292-300=895 (+43)
13) Lipscomb: 305-297-301=903 (+51)
14) Middle Tennessee: 311-290-305=906 (+54)
15) Charlotte: 311-291-315=917 (+65)
16) Cincinnati: 320-295-309=924 (+72)
Lineup
Place: Student-Athlete
T15) Violeta Fernandez-Tagle: 71-71-76=218 (+5)
T27) Alexis Daniel (Ind): 70-75-77=222 (+9)
T36) Makenzie Cooper: 78-70-76=224 (+11)
T36) Kera Healey: 74-75-75=224 (+11)
T43) Nieves Martin: 76-72-78=226 (+13)
T50) Giulia Foresta: 74-76-77=227 (+14)
T50) Imogen Rafferty (Ind): 74-77-80=231 (+18)
T50) Carmen Belmonte (Ind): 75-76-WD
Field (Top 100 ranking)
(76) Chattanooga, (100) Campbell, Charlotte, Cincinnati, (49) Colorado State, ETSU, (92) Iowa, Lipscomb, (39) Michigan, Middle Tennessee, (88) North Florida, (34) South Florida, (62) UTSA, (71) Western Kentucky, Xavier & (97) Yale