Lady Govs golf team closes with tourney’s low round, finishes tied for third at SIU event

APSU Women’s Golf

Carbondale, IL – Led by senior Chelsea Harris, Austin Peay State University women’s golf team shaved 16 strokes off its first-round total to shoot a final-round 313, Monday, to finish tied for third at the 17th Annual Saluki Invitational, played at the Hickory Ridge Golf Course.

The Lady Govs’ 642 left them just three back of first-place Southern Illinois (639) and just one shot behind second-place Bradley (641). APSU’s 313 represented not only Monday’s low round, but the tourney’s best 18-hole score as well.

“I was really proud of how we played today,” APSU coach Sara Robson said. “It was still brutally cold and windy, but our girls really fought through it. Everyone battled today, even the ones who struggled with their scores.

“There are four really tough holes (No. 7, No. 9, No. 15, No. 16) on this golf course. We played them much better today as far as keeping down the big numbers.”

Not only did the Lady Govs own the day’s low round, they also had the individual low score as well. Harris, the Metropolis, IL, native playing in her home state, shot a one-over 73, to finish second with a two-day 151. It was the spring’s best performance thus far for the defending Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year.

“Chelsea really played well,” Robson said. “When she found out she finished just back, she was kicking herself over a couple of shots from yesterday. But she really had a good tournament.”

Harris received ample support in Carbondale.  Sophomore Holly Batey, who shot an 87, Sunday, in the windy, cold conditions, bounced back with a 79 (166/t27th), Monday, while redshirt freshman Tabitha Beard followed up her 82 with an 80 for a two-day 162, tying for 14th place. Senior Catie Tucker shot an 81 after Sunday’s 82 (163/t18th) while senior Ashley Wathen had an 82, Monday, after Sunday’s 88. Junior Ashley Averitt finished at 185 (89-96)

Individually, Rachel Deaton had a 79, Monday, after a first-round 88 (167 total) while fellow freshman Tala Mumford backed up her 84 from Sunday with an 80, Monday, for a two-day 164 (t/21st).

Austin Peay outdistanced its two other OVC foes in the tourney as Eastern Kentucky, tied with the Lady Govs for fourth place after Sunday’s round, ended up in fifth at 654 while Eastern Illinois was far back in 12th with a 686. Future OVC member SIU Edwardsville finished ninth with a 673.

“To be 10 strokes back after the first day and finish just three shots back says a lot about this team today and the way we played,” Robson said. “We need to build on the confidence that we got from this tournament and continue to hit the ball like we did here. Where we will need to work this week is on the greens before we play at Belmont (Sunday and Monday).”