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VIRGINIA BEACH---Chattanooga Mocs sophomore Makenzie Cooper didn't take long to claim her first win. The Colorado transfer captured medalist honors leading the Mocs to a third-place finish at the Evie Odom Invitational.
 
Cooper posted a school-record total of 203 topping Dorota Zalewska's 204 winning the 2023 NCAA Raleigh Regionals. The 7-under finish is tied for third vs. par behind Zalewska (-12), Emily McLennan (-11, 2015 Fall Invite) and matched by Ladies European Tour pro Christine Wolf (2011 JMU Eagle Landing Invite). She followed up rounds of 68 and 68 with a career-low 67 (-3) on Sunday.
 
"We are so proud of Mak," Coach Colette Murray stated. "This is her first college win, and we really believe it won't be her last. Since she got to Chattanooga, she has put the work in to the parts of her game that have held her back. She is getting to see that pay off.
 
"I believe it will pay off for the whole team in due time."
 
That 67 paced the squad's 288. Freshman Violeta Fernandez came in with 72, just ahead of sophomore Kera Healey's 73. Freshman Giulia Foresta added 76 to complete the team tally, while grad transfer Carmen Belmonte had the drop at 82.
 
The ladies shot 20-over 860 for their 54 holes at Princess Anne Country Club. Fernandez also recorded a top 20 tying for 20th with 217, which was two better than Healey's 219. Foresta was next at 223 followed by Belmonte's 232.
 
Cooper captured the individual title by two over host Old Dominion's Puneet Bajwa in second (205). UCF won team honors with 10-over 850, five better than second-place Kent State. The Mocs were third (860) ahead of Furman and Old Dominion in fourth and fifth, respectively.
 
"We are really proud of how the girls fought this week," Murray added. "To only have one player play really well, and still contend, is important for us to see. We have a lot of work to do to become the team we want to become, but this team has it in them.
 
"They want to get better. They want to win. That means everything to us."
 
The Mocs return to action next Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate in Knoxville. The ladies tackle Cherokee Country Club Oct. 15-17 in the 3-day, 54-hole event.
 
Evie Odom Invite
Oct. 6-8 (Fri-Sun) | Virginia Beach, Va.
Princess Anne C.C. | Par 70 | 5,824 yards
 
Team Scores
1) UCF: 273-294-283=850 (+10)
2) Kent State: 283-286-286=855 (+15)
3) Chattanooga: 285-287-288=860 (+20)
4) Furman: 285-287-290=862 (+22)
5) Old Dominion: 294-282-290=866 (=26)
6) College of Charleston: 289-288-294=871 (+31)
7) East Carolina: 291-291-293=875 (+35)
8) James Madison: 296-288-292=876 (+36)
tie) Coastal Carolina: 291-292-293=876 (+36)
10) Notre Dame: 298-290-289=877 (+37)
11) Indiana: 287-301-299=887 (+47)
12) Sacramento State: 291-292-306=889 (+49)
13) Missouri: 288-304-298=890 (+50)
tie) Penn State: 294-303-293=890 (+50)
15) North Florida: 297-303-297=897 (+57)
 
Lineup
1) Makenzie Cooper: 68-68-67=203 (-7)
T20) Violeta Fernandez: 75-70-72=217 (+7)
T28) Kera Healey: 70-76-73=219 (+9)
T45) Giulia Foresta: 72-75-76=223 (+13)
T74) Carmen Belmonte: 76-74-82=232 (+22)
 
History
Year: Team Scores | Top Individual
2018: 6th, 295-289-289=873 | T3, Maddy McDanel, 68-72-68=208 (-2)
2019: 3rd, 280-291-285=856 | 3, Esme Hamilton, 65-74-66=205 (-5)
2021: 8th, 285-286-291=862 | T3, Dorota Zalewska, 68-67-71=206 (-4)
 
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