It seemed to defy mathematical probability, but somehow Montreat College women's golf team just missed winning the Appalachian Athletic Conference Fall Tournament. Despite placing five women in the event's top ten, the Lady Cavaliers lost a narrow decision as they recorded a team score of 541 to Union College's winning mark of 539.
Tiffany Willis of Union won the individual honors, shooting an 84-42-126 over 27 holes to edge Megan lane of Reinhardt by one stroke.
A cavalcade of Lady Cavaliers started a few strokes back from those fine scores, with Senior Ashley Mitcham recording an 85-47-132 to nip teammate Brittany Zachrich's 87-47-134. Caitlin Dempsey's 137, Morgan Morrow's 138, and Linzy Cook's 139 revealed the depth and consistency of the Montreat squad as all five players finished in the top ten of the tournament's results.
Montreat enters the off-season encouraged by the AAC Fall Tournament, where a strong team effort may not have been enough to catch Union, but it earned them second place after Tennessee Wesleyan College finished at 544, a scant three strokes back.
And while it may have felt like spring, David Pennell's Cavalier golfers knew this was their final match before a long winter's break. They made the most of the last chance to compete before 2010 as the men earned a 69-shot victory and the women won by 120 strokes.
For the men, junior Sean McKaig won the day, shooting a 77 on the Oak Hills Golf Club layout, narrowly edging freshmen teammates Brandon Craven and Jake Petersen, who both needed 79 shots to finish their rounds. Preston Karup, another freshman, shot an 82 for a team score of 317. Benedict struggled with a composite score of 386.
Ashley Mitcham and Morgan Morrow both recorded 92s for the women's team, Martha Turpin was a chip and a putt behind with a 94, and Hannah Glenn shot 97 as the women totaled 375 against Benedict, who averaged 30 strokes more per woman and posted a team score of 495.
The resounding wins were a satisfying finale to the year, and the teams begin next season in March 2010. Coach Pennell will begin posting his squads' schedules in January 2010 - a sure harbinger of spring.
The final results for the tournament are as follows:
Team Final Results:
Men:
1. Brevard College - 300-293=593
2. Union College - 294-303=597
3. Reinhardt College - 295-304=599
4. USC-Lancaster - 304-300=604
5. Bluefield State College - 305-306=611
6. Tri-County Technical College - 314-299=613
7. Virginia Intermont College - 303-312=615
8. Spartanburg Methodist - 317-302=619
9. Montreat College - 322-313=635
10. UVA-Wise - 334-333=667
11. Bluefield College - 344-332=676
Women:
1. Union College - 365-350=715
2. Montreat College - 374-365=739
3. Brevard College - 379-365=744
All Tournament Team:
Men:
1. Zach Lindsey, Reinhardt College - 71-71=142
*2. Brandon Craven, Montreat College - 73-71=144
Josh Davis, Brevard College - 71-73=144
Trevor Banks, USC-Lancaster - 73-71=144
5. Thomas Whiting, Tri-County - 75-70=145.
Women:
1. Lucy McNulty, Brevard College - 85-79=164
2. Ashley Buxton, Union College - 83-82=165
*3. Morgan Morrow, Montreat College - 88-87=175
Tiffany Willis, Union College - 88-87=175
5. Katie Horn, Union College - 93-84=177.
Montreat Scores:
Men:
Brandon Craven, (Fr. Hendersonville, NC) - 73-72=144
Sean McKaig, (Jr. Columbus, NC) - 80-81=161
Preston Karup, (Fr. Arden, NC) - 81-81=162
Jake Petersen, (Fr. Atlanta, GA) - 88-80=168
Women:
Morgan Morrow, (Fr. Burnsville, NC) - 88-87=175
Ashley Mitcham, (Sr. Waynesville, NC) - 97-89=186
Linzy Cook, (Fr. Boone, NC) - 93-95=188
Hannah Glenn, (Soph. Morganton, NC) - 96-94=190
Caitlin Dempsey, (Jr. Brandford, FLA) - 100-95=195
Individuals; Women
Julie White, (Fr. Fletcher, NC) - 101-102=203
Martha Turpin, (Fr. Slyva, NC) - 108-109=217
