September 19, 2023

Tech closes UAB Hoover Invitational eighth following final round

HOOVER, Ala. – Saving their best round of the week for last, the Tennessee Tech women's golf team completed play at the UAB Hoover Invitational at Hoover Country Club in Hoover, Ala.

By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information

HOOVER, Ala. – Saving their best round of the week for last, the Tennessee Tech women's golf team completed play at the UAB Hoover Invitational at Hoover Country Club in Hoover, Ala.

The purple and gold finished eighth among the nine teams in the field, producing a final round of 308 to finish with a 935 overall. Austin Peay won the event, besting host UAB by 12 shots behind an 890 composite score. Samford's Gabi Nicastro led individually wire-to-wire, taking home medalist honors among the 59 participants with a 9-under 207.

For the Golden Eagles, it was veteran Ainsley Simms making a splash on Tuesday to improve by 10 spots on the leaderboard. The senior tied for 15th after carding a 1-under 71 with four birdies to round out her total of the week at 228.

Rookie Chloe Griffith ended her second collegiate tournament just outside the top-25, tying for 26th with a 233 overall. The freshman tallied an 80 for the final day of action. Next among the Golden Eagle finishers was Kaydi Rhodes, who turned in a 237 to tie for 38th. The sophomore tallied two birdies on her way to an 80 for the third round.

Tying for 43rd on the leaderboard was veteran Gittle Sciolis, collecting one birdie on her way to a 77 and three-day total of 240. Rounding out the lineup for the purple and gold was Reagan Stuke, who capped off the week with an 82 for a 243 overall.

Up next on the docket for the Golden Eagles is the Saluki Invitational, hosted by Southern Illinois at Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau, Mo. from Monday, Oct. 2 through Tuesday, Oct. 3.

Top 5 Teams:
1.	Austin Peay	291-300-298=890	+26
T-2.	UAB	297-308-297=902	+38
T-2.	Troy	310-301-291=902	+38
4.	Samford	303-307-297=907	+43
5.	Jacksonville	302-299-311=912	+48
8.	Tennessee Tech	310-317-308=935	+71

Leaderboard (59 Golfers)
1.	Gabi Nicastro (Samford)	68-71-68=207	-9
T-15.	Ainsley Simms	77-80-71=228	+12
T-26.	Chloe Griffith	76-77-80=233	+17
T-38.	Kaydi Rhodes	78-79-80=237	+21
T-43.	Gittle Sciolis	79-84-77=240	+24
T-47.	Reagan Stuke	80-81-82=243	+27