Golden Eagles Sit Third After Opening Round of OVC Championship
Tennessee Tech positioned itself firmly in contention after the opening round of the 2026 Ohio Valley Conference Women's Golf Championship on Sunday, carding a team score of 323 (+35) to sit third overall at Dalton Golf and Country Club.
By Jeff Bowe, TTU Athletics Media Relations
DALTON, Ga. — Tennessee Tech positioned itself firmly in contention after the opening round of the 2026 Ohio Valley Conference Women's Golf Championship on Sunday, carding a team score of 323 (+35) to sit third overall at Dalton Golf and Country Club.
The Golden Eagles trail only first-place Little Rock (311) and second-place Morehead State (322) after 18 holes, remaining within striking distance heading into Monday's second round.
Tennessee Tech leaned on a balanced lineup effort, highlighted by a standout performance from Chloe Griffith. The sophomore fired a 5-over 77, placing third individually and just one stroke off the tournament lead after Round 1. Griffith's steady round anchored the Golden Eagles and kept them in the championship conversation early.
Kaydi Rhodes provided another key contribution, finishing tied for ninth with an 8-over 80. Rhodes delivered a consistent round that helped Tech maintain separation from the middle of the pack.
Lexus Julian added to the team's depth, tying for 11th with a 9-over 81, giving the Golden Eagles three players inside the top 15 on the individual leaderboard.
Kailey Lane rounded out the counting scores with an 85 (+13), while Sydney Branson posted an 89 (+17). Despite some higher scores on the back end of the lineup, Tech's top trio carried the squad to a strong opening position.
As a team, Tennessee Tech navigated a challenging course that yielded an average score of 84.81 on Sunday, with scoring conditions proving difficult across the field, particularly on par-4 and par-5 holes as detailed in the tournament statistics.
Little Rock holds the early lead behind a pair of 76s from co-leaders Cloe Poizac and Eleonore Aernouts, but the Golden Eagles remain well within range with 36 holes left to play.
Tennessee Tech Individual Results (Round 1 - 3rd, +35)
- Chloe Griffith — 3rd place — 77 (+5)
- Kaydi Rhodes — T-9th — 80 (+8)
- Lexus Julian — T-11th — 81 (+9)
- Kailey Lane — T-22nd — 85 (+13)
- Sydney Branson — 37th — 89 (+17)
UP NEXT
Tennessee Tech returns to the course Monday for the second round of the OVC Championship, looking to close the gap and contend for the conference title.
