Women’s Golf Runs Away With Tournament Title

Tuesday, September 15

Memphis, Tenn.

University of Memphis

Memphis Women's Intercollegiate

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Sep 15, 2015 | Women's Golf

Madison Thomas wins her first collegiate tournament.

By: Tammy DeGroff

MEMPHIS – The University of Memphis women's golf team had five players finish in the top 10 in its first tournament win of the season. Individual medalist honors came down to a sudden death playoff between Memphis freshman Madison Thomas and senior teammate Ashleigh Whisenant. Playing Ridgeway Country Club's No. 9 hole in the playoff, Thomas' putt circled the cup and fell in to edge Whisenant for tournament medalist honors.

"I'm thrilled. Having a freshman and a senior in a playoff for individual medalist is huge and I'm just ready to see what the future brings for this Lady Tiger golf team," Head Coach Beth Harrelson said.

The Lady Tigers started the day with a 20-stroke lead over second-place Ole Miss. With five Memphis players in the hunt for a tournament crown, that lead stretched to 33 strokes, giving Memphis the tournament title with an 874, 33 strokes ahead of second place Ole Miss' 907. Cincinnati finished third with a 917, while McNeese State finished fourth at 919. Memphis' 874 was just two strokes from the school record 872 the team posted in a tournament win at Florida International last fall.

"In our golf center is a banner saying embracing the challenge and these girls have stepped up and they're embracing the challenge," Harrelson said. "I could not be more proud of how they responded to that today. "

Thomas won tournament medalist honors with a third round 72, finishing 217 (+4) to win the title. Whisenant eagled seven to hop up to the top of the leaderboard in the early part of her final round. She then added a birdie at 14 to offset bogeys at 2, 9 and 12 to finish with a 70 (-1) in her final home tournament, also posting the low round of the tournament.

Junior Leighann Cabush shaved three strokes off her second round score and posted an even par 71 in the third round to finish at 218, good for third place overall. Freshman Sydney Colwill, competing as an individual in her first collegiate tournament, fired a pair of 72s to go with a second round 76 to finish fourth overall at 220, while Sam Houston State's Nicole Budnik broke the Memphis stranglehold on the top five spots with a 221 (+8), to finish fifth.

Sophomore Emily Goldenstein took five strokes off her second round score, firing a 72 to finish at 223 (+10), finishing eighth in the individual standings.

Julia Gerlach, also playing in her final home tournament as one of the team's two seniors, posted a 232 (+19) to finish tied for 25^th. Sophomore Megan Beane, playing in her first Memphis Intercollegiate after missing last year's tournament with an injury, posted a day three 79 to finish at 235 (+22) to finish tied for 41^st. Andrea Cropper, competing as an individual, finished tied for 75^th with a 248.

Memphis has a short break before playing in its next tournament. The Lady Tigers will compete in the Golfweek Conference Challenge in Vail, Colo., Sept. 21-23^rd.