AU women share Furman Invitational golf crown
By Lydia Williams | Sports writer
The Augusta University women’s golf team shared the team championship with host Furman in the 49th annual Lady Paladin Invitational that concluded on Sunday, Sept. 24, in Greenville, S.C.
The Jaguars shot a 6-under-par 282 for the final round Sunday as both AU and Furman finished 5 under par (859 strokes) for the tournament.
Junior Kennedy Carroll shot a brilliant 67 on the last day to help AU gain the first-place tie. Carroll’s round included five birdies.
“Kennedy struggled with her ball striking at Furman but stayed committed to the task at hand,” said AU Coach Caroline Haas-Hegg. “Our new assistant, Ruan Pretorius, walked the final round with her, and I think he helped her stay focused and minimized how frustration affected her score. As our team captain, I’m very proud of her for putting such a special round together for her team.”
Teammate Napabhach Boon-In led the way for Augusta by tying for seventh place at 2 under par at the 6,262-yard, par-72 Furman University Golf Course. Although she slumped to a 74 on Sunday, Boon-In carded a solid round the first day and an outstanding round on Saturday.
“Napa carried us through round two and put us in position to get the win on Sunday,” Haase-Hegg said. “I know she’s disappointed with her final round, but I know she gave everything she had to help us get the win. She managed herself incredibly well all week and played the par 5’s six under par for the tournament. She took advantage of scoring opportunities when they were in front of her and capitalized.”
Augusta found itself in third after Friday’s first round. Boon-In and Victoria Zheng were tied for 11th after the first day at 1-under-par 71. Freshman Keira Gonzalez-McCarthy was one stroke behind her teammates with an even-par 72 while Carroll finished at 73.
The Jaguars jumped to second place after Saturday's round. Boon-In, a graduate student, shot a stellar 69 and was tied for fifth heading into the final round on Sunday.
Following Boon-In’s seventh-place finish were sophomore Zheng and Gonzalez-McCarthy, both tied for ninth. Carroll finished 13th. Rounding out the AU team was sophomore Daniela Burgos, who finished 71st.
“It takes a strong performance to fight with Furman on their home course, and I’m very proud of the team for stepping up to the challenge and putting together a great round to tie them,” Haase-Hegg said. “All five players in our lineup contributed and showed grit and determination. It was the best all-around result we’ve put together in a number of years, with four players finishing in the top 13.”
Western Kentucky finished third, followed by North Florida and James Madison.
Up next for the AU women is The Southern in Savannah, to be played Oct. 23-24. It will be played at Savannah Golf Club.
Contact Lydia Williams at lwilliams23@augusta.edu.
AU women’s golf finished in a tie for first with Furman at the Lady Paladin Invitational over the weekend. From left to right, AU Coach Caroline Haase-Hegg, Daniela Burgos, Victoria Zheng, Chiara Sola, Kennedy Carroll, Keira Gonzalez-McCarthy, Napabhach Boon-In and Assistant Coach Ruan Pretorius. (courtesy of Furman University women’s golf team) At the top of the page, Boon-In shows her form that led to a seventh-place finish. (file photo)
