Golden Eagles hold onto third place at Great Smokies Intercollegiate

Diana Carson earned all-tournament honors with a third place finish

WAYNESVILLE, N.C. -- Tennessee Tech junior Diana Carson followed her opening round 71 with a 70 on Tuesday to shoot a two-day, 36-hole total of 141 and finish third at the Great Smokies Intercollegiate and earn all-tournament honors.

The Golden Eagles, meanwhile, captured third place for the second straight week, shooting scores of 292 and 294 for a consistent 586 total. Host Western Carolina, playing on its home course, won the team title with a 578, topping runnerup Wofford (583) by five shots. Tech was eight shots off the pace, followed by Samford (588) and Winthrop (589) in the top five.

The large field featured 22 teams, including two other Ohio Valley Confence squads. Morehead State, playing its first year of women's golf and its first-ever tournament, finished tied for sixth (597) and Austin Peay was 12th (604).

Belmont's Lorie Warren held on to win medalist honors with matcing rounds of 69 for a 138 total. She beat Wofford's Sarah Hurt by one shot. Carson was third at 141, while three players tied for fourth at 142.

Senior Madison Denman was Tech's next finisher, placing in a tie for 21st after improving four shots to shoot 76-72--148. Sophomore Carley Rhyne, who shared the lead after a 69 on Monday, carded a 79 Tuesday and also tied for 21st place at 148.

Junior Megan Bradford tied for 40th place at 78-73--151, while senior Ashley Spangler completed Tech's lineup, finishing 73rd with rounds of 76 and 79 for a 155.

The Tech women's team now takes a couple of weeks off before playing in the Cuthbert Cup, hosted by the College of Charleston, on Oct. 6-7.