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Rugile Pauliukonyte reads the green during the Collegiate Invitational at Guadalajara
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PREVIEW: Women’s Golf Stays Near Home Base for Next Opportunity

Rugile Pauliukonyte

Rugile Pauliukonyte and the Chattanooga Mocs make the short trip to Gadsden, Alabama for next tourney start at the Chris Banister Invitational.

Overview
The Chattanooga Mocs are back in action Sunday at the Chris Banister Invitational. The ladies make the short trek down I-59 at Spring Lakes on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trial in Gadsden, Ala. It's a 3-day, 54-hole event with 16 teams vying for the title.
 
Quotable
"I'm really proud of our improvements from fall to Guadalajara and then from Mexico to Phoenix. We're excited to be so close to home and get to take on a field that includes nearby schools like Samford, Jacksonville State & Tennessee." – Coach Katie Woodruff on this week's opportunity
 
Tournament Info
Chris Banister Invitational
Dates: March 8-10 | Format: 18/day | Host: Jacksonville State
Course: RTJ Silver Lakes | Par 72; 5,890 yards | Gadsden, Ala.
Field: Chattanooga, Akron, UAB, Bradley, Central Michigan, Eastern Kentucky, Indiana State, Jacksonville,
Jacksonville State, Longwood, North Dakota, Samford, Seton Hall, Tennessee, Troy, West Georgia
 
Resources: Scoring | Stats/Notes | Schedule | Roster
 
Lineup
  1. Makenzie Cooper
    Coming off her 4th career par or better tourney finish which is tied for fourth most in program history.
  2. Kera Healey
    2 over in last six cards with a 72.33 average.
  3. Erin Wells
    Shot 5 under to lead the squad the last time out in Arizona.
  4. Bella Bugg
    Off to a solid start to her Mocs career with 74 or less in five of six cards.
  5. Rugile Pauliukonyte
    Coming off her best collegiate 18 shooting 74 in the final round at Westbrook Village.
 
Breakdown
  • Three entries in the Chris Banister Invites, three team wins & three medalists: 2007 (Kelly Brotherton), 2008 (Emma de Groot) & 2024 (Makenzie Cooper).
  • Cooper has two career wins. She is one of five with multiple career victories. Another and she joins Emma de Groot '11 (6), Dorota Zalewska '23 (4) & Emily McLennan '16 (3) with three or more.
  • A Cooper win this week would make her the first Moc to win the same event twice among the 23 all-time medalist claims in program history.
  • 73 birdies over the last two events: 35-Guadalajara & 38-Westbrook. Most over 108 holes since 77 in Spring 2024. Most in 3-tourney stretch? 121 ('15-16).
 
History at the Chris Banister Invitational
Year: Team Scores | Top Individual
2007: 1, 288-297-300=885 | 1, Kelly Brotherton, 74-72-70=216 (E)
2008: 1, 288-299-291=878 | 1, Emma de Groot, 76-70-72=218 (+2)
2024: 1, 295-296-296=887 | 1, Makenzie Cooper, 72-73-73=218 (+2)
 
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