September 20, 2011

Everts continues strong play, leads Tech in final round at Great Smokies

Freshman Madalyn Everts tied her career-best round, firing a two-over 74 to lead Tennessee Tech in the final round of the Great Smokies Intercollegiate Tuesday at Waynesville Inn Golf Resort & Spa.

WAYNESVILLE, N.C. — Freshman Madalyn Everts tied her career-best round, firing a two-over 74 to lead Tennessee Tech in the final round of the Great Smokies Intercollegiate Tuesday at Waynesville Inn Golf Resort & Spa.

Everts has been strong in final rounds this season — she also turned in a team-leading 74 at the Drake Creek Invitational on Sept. 13. On Tuesday, she battled a wet course and on-and-off rain showers, but predicted heavy rains held off to allow the completion of the tournament, which was hosted by Western Carolina.

In addition to posting the low final round score, Everts was Tech's overall leader at the two-round Great Smokies, shooting a combined 76-74=150 and finishing in a tie for 42^nd place in the field of 124 golfers.

Katherine Bell, the Golden Eagles' first-round leader on Monday, shot a 73-80=153, while Brandy VanEtten turned in a final-round 76 to finish at 77-76=153. Amber Shepherd shot 84-81=165. Katy Beth Glover, who shot an 80 in Monday's first round, withdrew from the tournament on Tuesday.

Amanda Randolph, who played the tournament as an individual, shot a 77-78=155.

As a team, Tech finished 20^th out of the 23-team field with a combined score of 306-311=617.

Eastern Kentucky won the event, finishing an even-par 576. The Colonels were followed closely by the host squad, Western Carolina, which shot four-over and placed second. UNC Greensboro and Gardner-Webb both shot seven-over and finished in a tie for third. Rollins was fifth at 10-over.

The rest of the field consisted of Louisiana-Monroe (587), Presbyterian (591), Jacksonville (593), South Carolina State (595), South Alabama (597), Newberry (600), UAB (602), Radford (603), USC Upstate (604), Northwood (605), Appalachian State (608), Belmont (609), Bowling Green State (612), Western Kentucky (613), Tennessee Tech (617), Methodist (619), Savannah College of Art and Design (628) and The Citadel (630).

Western Carolina's Sofie Kvarnstrom took individual medalist honors, shooting nine-under for the tournament with a 69-66=135.

The Golden Eagles return to action on Oct. 10-11 at the F&M Bank APSU Intercollegiate hosted by Austin Peay in Hopkinsville, Ky.