HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. --- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's golf team captured its first Southern Conference Championship in just the third year of the program's existence today at Moss Creek Golf Club. Chattanooga shot 299 to claim an eight-stroke victory over College of Charleston.
The Mocs did it in exciting fashion. CofC started the day ahead by two shots and took a five-stroke lead into the final nine holes, but the Mocs were not to be denied. As a team, Chattanooga played the final nine at two-under par, beating Charleston by 13 shots over that span to claim the title.
Maria Juliana Loza and Emma de Groot led the charge playing the back nine at three-under and one-under par; respectively. Loza recorded all four of her birdies for the round over the pivotal final stretch as de Groot also posted both her birdies down the stretch to close out the Cougars.
"I never doubted for a second that we could pull it off, but wow what an effort on the back nine," said SoCon Coach of the Year Colette Murray. "The girls knew what we had to do and really executed. I couldn't be more proud with the way we went out and earned the championship."
de Groot ended up in second-place overall at 220 (+4) following today's level-par round of 72. She was joined in the top five by Maria Juliana Loza who ended up fourth at 224 (+8).
Christine Wolf gave the Mocs three top 10 finishers tying for sixth at 227. Moa Duf tied for 14th at 231, while Katie Taylor rounded out the scoring tied for 46th at 264.
The Mocs shot 902 for their 54 holes, while CofC ended the event at 910. UNC Greensboro's 918 placed it third, 12 strokes clear of Samford.
Appalachian State's Yue Xu won medalist honors with a one-over par total of 217 followed by de Groot who was three shots back at 220. Charleston's Ainhoa Nogales came in third at 221.
LEADERBOARD
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1) Chattanooga
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306-297-299
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902 (+38)
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2) College of Charleston
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300-301-309
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910 (+46)
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3) UNC Greensboro
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306-304-308
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918 (+54)
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4) Samford
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318-314-298
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930 (+66)
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5) Furman
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315-306-310
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931 (+67)
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T6) Elon
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322-300-323
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945 (+81)
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T6) Western Carolina
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331-312-302
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945 (+81)
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8) Appalachian State
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317-303-326
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946 (+82)
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9) Wofford
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330-316-317
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963 (+99)
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10) The Citadel
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357-353-348
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1058 (+194)
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Mocs:
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2) Emma de Groot
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76-72-72
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220 (+4)
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4) Maria Juliana Loza
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74-76-74
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224 (+8)
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T6) Christine Wolf
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80-71-76
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227 (+11)
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T14) Moa Duf
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76-78-77
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231 (+15)
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T46) Katie Taylor
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88-89-87
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264 (+48)
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All-Conference Team
Leigh Whittaker, College of Charleston
Tara McFadden, Elon
Jackie Hilea, Furman
Stefanie Kenoyer, Furman
Courtney Taylor, UNC Greensboro
Katelyn Stanier, Samford
Emma de Groot, Chattanooga
Maria Juliana Loza, Chattanooga
Desiree Karlsson, Western Carolina
Josefine Sundh, Western Carolina
All-Freshman Team
Yue Xu, Appalachian State
Vanessa Koechli, College of Charleston
Diana Davis, Elon
Courtney Taylor, UNC Greensboro
Malin Jansson, Western Carolina
Player of the Year
Stefanie Kenoyer, Furman
Freshman of the Year
Courtney Taylor, UNC Greensboro
Coach of the Year
Colette Murray, Chattanooga
