MEMPHIS, Tenn. The women's golf season kicked off Saturday with the two-day Rhodes Fall Invitational and Methodist's women, ranked sixth in the WGCA preseason poll, flirted with the top spot before finishing the day second on the team leaderboard.
On the individual leaderboard, freshman
Jillian Drinkard mirrored her team's output, flipping in and out of the top spot until ending her Saturday in second place with a 4-under par 69 (35-34).
JUST THE FACTS
Event: 2018 Rhodes Fall Classic
Location: The Links at Galloway, Memphis, Tenn.
Top two teams: 1 - Washington (Mo.) Univ., 289 (3-under par), 2 - Methodist, 292 (Even par)
Top three individuals: 1 - Samantha Haubenstock, WashU, 67 (-6), 2 -
Jillian Drinkard, Methodist, 69 (-4), 3 - two players tied at 72 (-1)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Drinkard was up front most of the day, posting a 35 on the front nine then echoing her nine on the back until posting a birdie, her fifth of the day, on No. 18.
- Sarah Sontowski (tie-5th, 36-37--73) carded a consistent round with 14 pars and a birdie and bogey on both the front and back nines.
- Peyton Durham (38-37--75) tied teammate Morgan Bowen (35-40--75) at 2-over par and in a five-way tie for 11th.
- Paige Church (T-20) opened with a 37 before closing the back half with a 40 to card a 4-over 77.
- Playing as an individual, Methodist's Alexandra Williams scuffled at the beginning of the front nine and made the turn after a 41, then reeled off five pars in a row before adding a stroke on each of the next three holes, eventually finishing with a back-nine 40 for an 8-over 81.
BEYOND THE STATS
- Four of the teams in the Classic received recognition in the preseason Women's Golf Coaches Association preseason Division III poll. Methodist earned the No. 6 spot in the poll, WashU was eighth, Rhodes was No. 19 and Transylvania received points from the voting to accumulate the 27th-most points.
UP NEXT
- The Monarchs continue the Classic Sunday at Galloway.
