Women’s golf finished its regular season over the weekend with a tri-match victory over OVC competitors Belmont and Austin Peay State and a draw versus Southern Illinois.
On Saturday, the Racers faced the Bruins and Governors at the Highlands Golf Course in Huntsville, Ala. Senior Delaney Howson led the team with a low score of 76 to win the sixth medalist honor of her career.
“I did all right in Alabama,” Howson said. “It wasn’t the best, but it was OK for the wind and just playing a new course in general. The course was pretty tough, so it was definitely a learning experience. I didn’t play very well in the front nine, so I mean it could have been better. But obviously it’s always nice to win.”
After one 18-hole round, the Racers overall team score was 319, bettering Belmont and Austin Peay’s respective scores of 326 and 333.
Freshmen Sydney Trimble and Jacklyn Van Meter tied for third place with a score of 80. Sophomores Abbi Stamper and Sophie Hillier placed eighth and 10th, respectively. Freshman Minta Yin placed 16th in individual play with a score of 91.
“The greens were a lot different than we’re used to,” Howson said. “They’re really firm, so the ball wasn’t holding as much, and they’re really big, so if you put it on the wrong spot in the green you had the potential to three putt. But overall I think we did pretty well. It was a good experience to play a trail course and get in some good practice before heading to Alabama again next week.”
Scheduling multiple matches on courses similar to the OVC Championship venue in order to get experience for the upcoming tournament, the Racers had a quick turnaround over the weekend.
They traveled to Cape Girardeau, Mo., Sunday for their dual-match against SIU at Dalhousie Golf Course.
“I feel like we definitely live out of our suitcase more than in our dorm,” Trimble said. “We’re always traveling.”
The Racers arrived in Missouri to find a windy, rainy day on the course.
The inclimate weather didn’t phase Van Meter, who led the Racers with a score of 78 to place second in the match.
“It all comes down to patience,” Van Meter said. “If Velvet really pushes us to do anything, it’s to always have patience. Those bad conditions that we played in, 45 mph wind and rain, you have to have patience in that. I think I did that really well. I had fun and it was just great.”
Teammates Howson and Yin both carded scores of 80 to tie for third place. Trimble placed sixth and Stamper placed eighth while Hillier and Junior Gina Nuzzo carded respective rounds of 86 and 87 in individual play.
The dual match against SIU was the last of regular season play for the Racers as they prepare for the OVC Championship, set to take place Monday through Wednesday at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at the Shoals in Muscle Shoals, Ala.
Story by Mallory Tucker, Sports Editor