April 23, 2010

Tech seventh as OVC Tournament ends after 45 holes

The Golden Eagles climbed to within five strokes of sixth place after the second round Friday, but lost some ground on the front side of the final round. Tech finished in seventh place as the final nine holes of the 2010 OVC Women's Golf Tournament were canceled.

DICKSON, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech women's golf team chopped nine strokes off its first round with an improved showing Friday in the second round of the 2010 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament, but the Golden Eagles lost some of that momentum later in the day.

The teams played the firstnine of the final round Friday, and never got back on the course for the back nine. The tournament was canceled after 45 holes, meaning the Golden Eagles finished in seventh place with two players in the Top 25 on the individual leaderboard.

Junior Carley Rhyne (pictured) tied for 20^th place and senior Diana Carson tied for 23^rd.

Murray State (747) vaulted into the lead on Friday, and claimed a five-stroke win over Jacksonville State (752). Morehead State (759), which shared the first round lead with the Gamecocks, took third place, 12 shots off the lead. Fourth place belonged to Austin Peay (769), another 10 shots back, followed by Eastern Kentucky (778), Eastern Illinois (797), Tech (807) and Tennessee State (957).

Austin Peay's Chalsea Harris was the individual leader with a five-shot lead.

After opening with a 77 Thursday, Rhyne shot an 81 Friday and made the turn on her third round with a 40 to tie for 20^th place at 198. Carson was two strokes back at 200. She improved to a 79 Friday following her 84, and shot 37 on her front nine of the final tour.

Senior Megan Bradford shot matching scores of 82 on the first two rounds, and ended play Friday at 41, placing her in a tie for 29^th place at 205.

Freshman Katherine Bell had Tech's best round of the tournament on Friday when she carded a second round 76. She lost some ground with a 44 in the front nine, and finished tied for 31^st place at 206. Another freshman, Amanda Randolph, placed 36^th with rounds of 84 and 89, and a 45 halfway through her final round.