APSU Women’s Golf
Murray, KY – Sophomore Holly Batey, playing her young career’s best golf at Austin Peay State University, fired an 80, Tuesday afternoon to finish in a third-place tie in the rain-shortened NewWave Communications MSU Classic.
Meanwhile, the Lady Govs as a team finished third with a 326. Host Murray State won the event with a 317 followed by Western Illinois at 323. The tourney was shortened to 18 holes after Monday’s heavy rains.
“Holly played very well,” APSU coach Sara Robson said. “She has been working very hard and it paid off. She was able to take what she has been doing in practice and put it to use today.
“She got off to really slow start, with a triple (bogey) on the first hole and a double (bogey) on the second. She didn’t get down; she played very well and I am really proud of her.”
Senior Ashley Wathen and junior Ashley Averitt led the Lady Govs’ team scores with 81s, tying them for ninth place. Defending tourney medalist, senior Chelsea Harris, and freshman Tala Mumford tied for 14th with 82s while another freshman, Rachel Deaton tied for 18th with an 83.
Redshirt freshman Tabitha Beard, playing as an individual, shot an 81, tying for ninth, while Catie Tucker tied for 26th with an 85.
“Not being able to warm up really hurt us,” Robson said. “We got off to a rough start, but all the teams faced the same circumstance (not getting to warm up). The course was really wet and played really long.
“But after the slow start we really played some good golf; we hit some really good golf shots. Tabitha was really playing well until the final couple of holes; her wrist start giving her some problems, but I was proud of the way she played.”
The Lady Govs will return to action next week when they travel to Ocala, FL, to play in the EKU El Diablo Intercollegiate, March 8th-10th.
