Golden Eagle women claim team title at Austin Peay tournament

Carson, Spangler earn all-tourney finishes

CLAKRSVILLE, Tenn. -- Senior Ashley Spangler and junior Diana Carson set the pace and Tennessee Tech's women's golf team finished strong Tuesday to overtake first-round leader Murray State and capture the team championship at the 17-team F&M Bank Intercollegiate, hosted by Austin Peay.

Spangler and Carson each finished play with a one-over 73 Tuesday, and tied for fifth place individually to earn all-tournament laurels. Each had opened with a 79 in Monday's action, and the Golden Eagles were in second place, two shots behind the Lady Racers.

On Tuesday, Tech followed Monday's 312 with a 308 team round and finished at 620, two shots ahead of Murray State (622), one of six Ohio Valley Conference schools in the field. Arkansas State (626) was third, while Morehead State's first-year women's team tied with Belmont for fourth place (637).

Among the other OVC teams in the event, host Austin Peay was seventh (647), Eastern Illinois 12th (657) and Tennessee State 17th (817).

Belmont's Lorie Warren won medalist honors with a 145 total, and Joyce Trus of Murray State was second, one stroke back. Staci Lynch of Austin Peay and JoAnna Smith of Western Kentucky tied for third place at 150, with Spangler and Carson next, two shots behind at 152.

Megan Bradford, who led Tech on Day One with a 76, slipped to an 83 Tuesday to finish tied for 15th place at 159. Also at 159, Carley Rhyne followed her opening round 78 with an 81 to tie Bradford. Madison Denman improved two strokes -- the same as Tech's margin of victory -- to shoot an 81 Tuesday, and tied for 38th place at 164.

The Tech women will wrap up the fall season under first-year coach Brandy Stout next week at the Troy Invitational.