PREVIEW: Women’s Golf Right Back to the Tee in Gadsden

Sunday, March 10

Gadsden, Ala.

Chattanooga

Chris Banister Invitational - Round 1

Nieves Martin

Photo by: Parker Waters

3/9/2024 2:04:00 PM | Women's Golf

Nieves Martin and the Chattanooga Mocs make the short trek down to the Robert Jones Golf Trail for their seventh start of the season.

STATS/NOTES | SCORING | PAIRINGS | ABOUT CHATTANOOGA GOLF

GADSDEN, Ala.---The Chattanooga Mocs look to continue the momentum of the week teeing off Sunday morning at the Chris Banister Invitational. All eight ladies are making the short trek to Gadsden, Ala., readying for play on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail's Silver Lakes Course.

The starting lineup of Violeta Fernandez-Tagle, Makenzie Cooper, Giulia Foresta, Kera Healey and Nieves Martin are coming off the first 54-hole par or better performance since 2015 with a 4-und 860 total at the UNF Collegiate this past Monday and Tuesday. That resulted in a hard-fought fourth-place finish against a solid field.

They're joined by the individual trio of Carmen Belmonte, Alexis Daniel and Imogen Rafferty. Belmonte has three appearances under her belt with two starts this season. It's the first action for Daniel and Rafferty who transferred from Cincinnati and McKendree, respectively.

"We have a short turn around, but we are looking forward to getting back out there to build on the momentum from the last few events and the last few team rounds in particular," Coach Colette Murray shared. "We have some good history at Silver lakes so here is hoping we can pick up from where we left off."

The tournament begins Sunday morning with the Mocs first off the tee with host Jacksonville State. Martin leads off No. 1 at 9:30 a.m., Eastern DAYLIGHT Time, followed in 10-minute intervals by Healey, Foresta, Cooper, Fernandez-Tagle, Rafferty, Daniel and Belmonte. It's a 3-day, 54-hole event.

Live scoring, including pairings when available, is linked above.

Chris Banister Invitational
March 10-12 (S-T) | Gadsden, Ala. | 54 holes (18/day)
RTJ Trail - Silver Lakes | Par 72 | 5,890 yards

Notes to follow…

Third Chris Banister Invite with title sweeps in 2007 & 2008 (see historical info below).
Back-to-back top 10s for Fernandez-Tagle…averaging 71.67 stokes per 18 in spring.
860 UNF Coll. total tied for the 4th in school history with Evie Odom in October...4 under total is the 3rd-lowest by par and 4th par or better finish all-time…lowest since 12 under (852) in 2015 Fall Invite win.

Lineup
Tee Time (Hole No. 1): Student-Athlete (Scoring Avg.)
9:30 am: Nieves Martin (75.75)
9:40 am: Kera Healey (75.22)
9:50 am: Giulia Foresta (74.33)
10 am: Makenzie Cooper (72.50)
10:10 am: Violeta Fernandez-Tagle (72.56)
10:20 am (Ind): Imogan Rafferty (1st app)
10:30 am (Ind.): Alexis Daniel (1st app)
10:40 am (Ind.): Carmen Belmonte (76.44)

Field (Top 100 ranking)
(77) Chattanooga, Illinois State, Jacksonville State, North Alabama, Northern Colorado, Queens, South Alabama, Stonehill

History
Year: Team Scores | Top Individual
2007 (Fall): 1st, 288-297-300=885 (+21) | 1st, Kelly Brotherton, 74-72-70=216 (E)
2008 (Fall): 1st, 288-299-291=878 (+14) | 1st, Emma de Groot, 76-70-72=218 (+2)

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