APSU Women’s Golf
Carbondale, IL – Battling near wintry weather conditions, Austin Peay State University women’s golf team finds itself in a fourth-place tie after the first round of 17th Annual Saluki Invitational, being played at the par-72, 6,863-yard Hickory Ridge Golf Course.
The Lady Govs shot an opening-round 329, Sunday, 10 strokes behind host Southern Illinois. Western Illinois and Bradley are tied for second at 327 with Austin Peay and fellow Ohio Valley Conference foe Eastern Kentucky sharing fourth place.
After being unable to play a practice round because of a wintry precipitation mix Saturday, the tourney start was delayed until 11:00am Sunday as temperatures finally rose above freezing.
“It was a very challenging day to say the least,” APSU coach Sara Robson said. “It was very windy and very cold. It also was very wet and the course really played long.”
That’s why Robson was impressed with Lady Govs senior golfer Chelsea Harris, who is in second place individually after shooting a 78, six strokes behind Bradley’s Breanne Neufeld (72).
“I told some of the parents that any score below 80 today would be a great score,” Robson said. “Chelsea played very well today and played with good patience.”
Only seven players were able to break 80, Sunday. APSU’s next lowest score was an 82 shot by both senior Catie Tucker and redshirt freshman Tabitha Beard, tying them for 17th individually. Sophomore Holly Batey was next with an 87, followed by senior Ashley Wathen (88) and junior Ashley Averitt (89). The SIU event allows six players to compete, with the top four scores being counted.
Playing as an individual, Tala Mumford fired an 84, tying her for 25th, while fellow freshman Rachel Deaton shot an 88.
“I was really proud of Catie,” Robson said. “Catie is not a long hitter and the par fours immediately became fives for her. She remained patient and got the ball in the hole.
“Tabitha also played well, even though she started out with a couple of penalty shots. With the weather and everything, her (surgically-repaired) wrist really held up well. We hope we have found a regimen for her that is working.”
The 36-hole tourney will conclude Monday with temperatures expected to reach the lower 50s.
“Being unable to have our practice round yesterday hurt from the standpoint we had four girls (Beard, Batey, Mumford and Deaton) who had never played the course before,” Robson said. “It is one thing for me to help prepare them by talking to them about the different holes, but it is another to have actually played it.
“Hopefully, tomorrow we will use what we learned today and apply it. We just have to understand the course is going to play long and remain patient. We have to keep the ball in the fairways and out of the trees and hazards. If we can avoid the doubles (bogeys) and triples, we will have a good shot of putting up a good score.”
