Women's golf finishes second at SBC Championship

MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. - The Middle Tennessee women's golf team put together a dramatic ending, leading to the team's best finish ever at the Sun Belt Championships on Wednesday with a final score of 899 to finish second at The Shoals Golf Club's Schoolmaster Course.

"We really played hard down the stretch," said coach Chris Adams. "Denver came in and put up two great rounds, but we fought hard, and we have a bright future."

Karisa Akin, who earned all-conference honors, shot a two-over 74 on Wednesday to finish fourth in the 54 player field with a 2-over 218. The score is tied for the fifth best three-round score in school history.

"I struggled a bit on the greens," said Akin. "But I'm happy with the result."

Olivia Love finished tied for eighth in the tournament after carding a five-over 77. The freshman finished the event with an eight-over 224.

Clara Leathers completed her collegiate career with a four-over 76 to finish tied for 27th, carding a 15-over 231. Morgan Hale, who was voted all all-conference after the tournament, was one stroke behind at 232 after carding a six-over 78.

Ashley Haggard rebounded with a two-over 74 to finish the event tied for 31st with a 17-over 233.

Denver won the event for the seventh consecutive year with an 865. Middle Tennessee edged out Arkansas-Little Rock, who finished one stroke back with a 900.

Middle Tennessee's three-round score of 899 is the best by a Blue Raider team at the Sun Belt Championships and the fifth-best ever.

The Blue Raiders wrapped up the spring season with three of the top five three-round tournament scores in school history.

TEAM SCORES
1. Denver, 281-298-286=865 (+1)
2. Middle Tennessee, 300-298-301=899 (+35)
3. Arkansas-Little Rock, 305-295-300=900 (+36)
4. South Alabama, 303-304-298=905 (+41)
5. North Texas, 313-304-293=910 (+46)
6. Florida International, 300-300-312=912 (+48)
7. Arkansas State, 309-306-298=913 (+26)
8. Troy, 308-316-302=926 (+62)
9. Florida Atlantic, 307-318-302=927 (+63)
10. Louisiana-Monroe, 306-324-306=936 (+72)
11. Western Kentucky, 314-322-311=947 (+83)
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P> MT SCORES
4. Karisa Akin, 74-70-74=218 (+2)
T8. Olivia Love, 73-74-77=224 (+8)
T27. Clara Leathers, 80-75-76=231 (+15)
T29. Morgan Hale, 75-79-78=232 (+16)
T31. Ashley Haggard, 78-81-74=233 (+17)

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