Golden Eagle women second, Carson claims third in Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Tennessee Tech women's golf team earned a second-place finish in the team standings and senior Diana Carson (center in photo) earned the sixth all-tournament honor of her career with a third-place individual finish at the Ann Rhoads Classic, hosted by Birmingham Southern College.

Indiana State broke a first-round tie with the Golden Eagles at 320 by posting a second-day 314 to win the team title. Tech slipped to a 623 on Monday, but still held on to second place by 10 strokes with a 643. Evansville (653) took third, followed by Butler (657), Jackson State (658) and Lipscomb (743).

Those seven teams competed in the "Black Division" of the tournament for NCAA Division I programs.

West Florida claimed the "Gold Division" championship with a 655 total, topping a field of 11 non-Division I schools.

Carson was consistent in the tournament, shooting 76 on Sunday and 77 Sunday to finish at 153, one stroke back of co-leaders Jennifer Sells of Jackson State and Maggie Wood of Evansville. It was the first all-tournament award this year for Carson, who earned three top five finishes as a sophomore and two as a junior.

Junior Carley Rhyne and senior Megan Bradford both earned Top 10 finishes. Rhyne was ninth at 81-81--162, with Bradford one stroke back in 10th place at 82-81--163. Freshman Amanda Randolph tied for 14th place with 81-84--165. Lindsay Spradlen shot an 86 Sunday but struggled to a 94 Monday, finishing with a 180 for 28th place.

Katie Brown played in the tournament as an individual and finished 11th overall with matching rounds of 82 for a 164 total.

Tech's next action is March 11-12 at the Eastern Kentucky Invitational, a tournament the Lady Colonels will host in Citrus Springs, Fla.