University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship
Vols Place Second at Mercedes-Benz
September 22, 2015 | Women's Golf
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- In the 19th annual Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championships, Tennessee finished in second place with a third round score of 289. Junior Lucia Polo finished the tournament tied for fifth place with a score of 213 (E).
As a team, the Vols finished with a combined score of 856 after rounds of 280, 287 and 289. Tennessee moved up one spot from the second round.
"This was a really good team performance. We could have played better of course, but they did a lot of good things out there," stated Head Coach Judi Pavon upon conclusion of the final round. "Having three players in the top-10 is great and four in the top-20 is very solid. That's what it takes to compete well as a team."
Joining Polo in the top 10 were teammates Anna Newell and Shannon Brooks. Newell's one-over par performance (214) placed her in a tie for seventh and Brooks ended her second collegiate tournament in a four-way tie for ninth place with a total score of 216.
Blakesly Warren ended the tournament in a six way tie for 18th place, moving up two spots from her second round finish. Warren birdied three of her last six holes. Emmie Pietila finished in a three-way tie for 31st after shooting rounds of 75, 78 and 69.
"I'm really proud of Emmie and Blakesly for playing well today when some of the top girls struggled a little," added Pavon.
Kent State earned the tournament title after shooting rounds of 285, 278 and 284. Their 847 total set a new tournament record, surpassing Tennessee's 2010 score of 849. Iowa State placed third behind the Vols.
Kent State also earned an individual title with first place going to Taylor Kim after two playoff holes with NC State's India Clyburn. Kim's and Clyburn's scores of 207 tied the tournament record set by Tennessee's Erica Popson and Ole Miss's Natalie Gleadall in 2010.
Individually, Teleri Hughes finished best for the Vols in a tie for 38th place after shooting a career low 72 in the final round. Hannah Pietila finished 13-over par with a combined total of 226. Allison Herring shot a third round score of 85.
"Each individual had a least one good round which was great to see," said Pavon. "This must have been one of Teleri's best tournaments which is great."
The Vols will continue their fall season at the Annika Intercollegiate Invitational in Orlando, Fla. on Sunday, Sept. 27 through Tuesday, Sept. 29.
"We are really looking forward to playing in the Annika Invitational starting this Sunday," expressed Pavon. "We were invited based on our top-10 ranking from last season, so it will be a very competitive field and will be a good test for us early in the season."
For the most up-to-date information about the Tennessee women's golf team, visit UTSports.com/w-golf, follow @Vol_WGolf on twitter and like the Vols at Facebook.com/UTWomensGolf.
