Women’s Golf Charges to Second Place Finish at Magnolia Invitational

Tuesday, October 3

Starkville, MS

University of Memphis

Magnolia Invitational

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Women’s Golf Charges to Second Place Finish at Magnolia Invitational

Oct 03, 2017 | Women's Golf

Sophomore Abby Herrmann ties for first.

By: Tammy DeGroff

MEMPHIS – The University of Memphis women's golf team charged to a second place finish with a school-record 281 in the final round of the Magnolia Invitational, Tuesday. Memphis finished second with an 861. Sophomore Abby Herrmann tied for first at the event, her best collegiate career finish, with a 209.

"I'm just so proud of this team and the way they came together," Head Coach Beth Harrelson said. "They knew with Michaela out that every score counted, and every shot counted, and they just came in with what we call a "True Tiger Warrior Spirit."

Herrmann tied her previous career-low rounds on Sunday and Monday, shooting 70 both days, then did a stroke better on Tuesday, shooting a 69 and pulling in to a tie for first in the individual event. She birdied six on the front side to hit the turn at -1, then had three straight birdies on 14, 15 and 16 to move to -4. A bogey on 18 pushed her back to -3 and in to a tie for first.

She and Ole Miss' Julia Johnson played a two-hole playoff from there. Both parred the first playoff hole, but Johnson edged Herrmann on the second hole for tournament medalist honors.

Herrmann was one of three Tigers to place in the top five. With junior Michaela Fletcher withdrawing from the event on Monday with an injury, the remaining four individual scores would all count in the team total. Sydney Colwill and Madison Thomas responded with identical 69s in the final round to finish third and fourth, respectively. Senior Emily Goldenstein added a final round 74 for a 231, good for 49^th overall.

"This was big for us," Harrelson said. "Auburn was ranked 15^th and Tennessee 26^th in the polls and we finished ahead of both of them. We've shot a 281 before as a team, but not on a par 72. This team just really came together."

Ole Miss claimed the team title with a seven stroke lead over Memphis, firing a 287 to finish at 854. Memphis followed with an 861, followed by Tennessee at 872. Mississippi State and Auburn finished tied for fourth at 877.

The second place finish is the third top five finish of the three-tournament-old season for Memphis and is their second top-two finish after winning the fall opener at the Payne Stewart Memorial. The Lady Tigers are next back in competition on Oct. 21-22^nd at the Cardinal Cup. The team will finish the fall with a two-day tournament in Oahu, Hawai'i, Oct. 31-Nov. 1^st.

1. Ole Miss	278	289	287	854
2. Memphis	291	289	281	861
3. Tennessee	287	292	293	872
T4. Mississippi State	296	287	294	877
T4. Auburn	291	294	292	877
6. LSU	301	293	288	882
7. Southern Miss	303	291	296	890
8. Augusta	307	296	293	896
9. Kansas State	301	298	299	898
10. Troy	321	294	305	920
Top 10
T1. Julia Johnson, Ole Miss *	68	69	72	209
T1. Abby Herrmann, Memphis	70	70	69	209
3. Sydney Colwill, Memphis	75	68	69	212
4. Madison Thomas, Memphis	72	72	69	213
T5. Valentina Haupt, Southern Miss	71	73	70	214
T5. Kathleen Gallagher, LSU	68	71	75	214
T5. Conner Beth Ball, Ole Miss	69	75	70	214
T8. Michaela Owen, Auburn	70	74	73	217
T8. Waverly Whiston, Tennessee	75	68	74	217
T8. Katie Holt, Mississippi State	73	72	72	217
* won a two-hole playoff
Memphis' Additional Scores
49. Emily Goldenstein	78	79	74	231
T50. Julia Matzat	76	79	77	232