(Tega Cay, SC) – The Truett McConnell University Women’s Golf team finished off a season filled with record breaking scores and the best finish in the history of the program at the NAIA Direct Qualifier. The women placed 4th out of 12 teams.
Day 1 featured the women starting play in a driving rainstorm. The Lady Bears were able to finish 9 holes on Monday when play was called. The hope was to resume play later on, but weather conditions would not lighten as play was called for the rest of the day.
The next day the women teed off at 9 a.m. on Tuesday to resume Round 1 where they left off the day before. When play was completed after Round 1, the women were led by Hannah Wall with an 82. Hannah McRee followed closely behind Wall with an 84, and Kayla Chapman shot an 85. Sophomore Teagan Lovingoodrounded out the team score with a 91, for a team total of 342. The women’s finish left them tied for 4th with Tennessee Wesleyan, who is ranked #24 in the nation. The three teams ahead of them were also all ranked in the top 25 in the nation, as the conference boasts a very strong field in women’s golf.
It was decided on Monday night that the tournament would be shortened to 27 holes, which is what it takes to make it an official event. Once Round 1 scores were turned in, the Lady Bears immediately went to the first tee and started the final 9 holes of the event. The last 9 holes proved to be an all-day affair, as there were more rain delays which left the last group finishing just before dark.
After the last 9 holes, Hannah McRee had turned in a score of 40. She was followed closely behind again by Kayla Chapman who score a 43. Both Hannah Wall and Teagan Lovingood scored 44’s. This was enough to beat #24 Tennessee Wesleyan by one stroke, to secure a 4th place finish.
Senior Hannah McRee individually finished tied for 9th, which was the highest finish of her career in her last tournament of her collegiate career. Kayla Chapman and Hannah Wall also secured top-15 finishes to help lead the Lady Bears to a historic finish in the NAIA Direct Qualifier.
“What a way to end the year for our team and for our two seniors,” said Coach Patton, Director of Golf. “Kayla Chapman and Hannah McRee have meant so much to this program for all of these years and I couldn’t be happier for them to finish their careers in such a huge way,”
