TSU Tigers Ties School Record to Open the Spring Season

Kelly Merkel
Photo courtesy of Sam Jordan/TSU Athletics

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- The Tennessee State women’s golf team began the spring the same as they closed out the fall. The Tigers fired a team 326 at McCabe Golf Course on Friday afternoon. The score ties a school record for lowest round, which they set at the Chyarles Braun Jr. Intercollegiate in Evansville, Ind., on the final day of the early season schedule.

 

The Tigers fell in today’s match with Lipscomb, 308-326

 

“Overall, I am pleased with the players sticking to our process to improve as individuals and as a team,” said head coach Parrish McGrath.

 

Kelly Merkel, Erica Edwards, Sarah Needleman and Natalie Spicer teamed up to close the gap on the Bison, who outscored TSU by 37 strokes in October.

 

Merkel led the way as she shot a 39 on the front side, before cutting a pair of strokes off the back nine for a 76. The sophomore hit nine fairways and nine greens, while picking up five up-and-downs on the day. Merkel closed out the day with a birdie, as she stuck the approach shot on the par-4, 18th about five feet from pin to setup a one-putt.

 

Edwards used a two-foot birdie on the 150-yard par-3, 14th, to pace her round of 77. Edwards completed play with 35 putts, 10 fairways and nine greens in regulation.

 

Needleman started the day par-par on her way to an 85. She used 36 putts and hit eight fairways and six greens. Spicer’s birdie on the par-4, 4th highlighted her round of 88. The freshman’s drive off the box found the middle of the fairway, setting up an 8-iron from 132-yards out to set up a 10-foot putt for the birdie. Spicer hit 11 fairways and found six greens.

 

Amelia Dap shot an 89 with seven fairways and eight greens, while Laura Bremer carded a 90 with 33 putts, six fairways, four greens and one birdie.

 

“Our ball striking was good and I saw some great progress on the adjustments we have been making to some of their swings,” McGrath commented.

 

The Tigers are off until March 3, when they travel to take part in the MSU Invitational in Murray, Ky. The two-day event will consist of 18-hole play on each day.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION