By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Fans of the Tennessee Tech women's golf program got a sneak peak of what's to come from its newest member Friday morning, as incoming sophomore Allyson Dunn captured the 83rd Tennessee Women's Amateur Championship.
A transfer from East Tennessee State, Dunn qualified for the event after firing back-to-back scores of 76 on Monday and Tuesday, finishing tied for sixth with an eight-over 152. After qualifying, play shifted to a match-play format, pitting the Kingsport, Tenn. native against five different opponents on her way to the title.
"I'm super proud of Allyson," head coach Polk Brown expressed. "It was exciting to be down there and able to watch her play. To win an event of that stature speaks volumes to the type of player she is."
Dunn opened match-play Wednesday morning, edging out her former Sullivan South High School teammate and current Middle Tennessee golfer Lacie York 2 and 1. Later that afternoon, she dispatched Vanderbilt's Lauren Johnson with relative ease, 6 and 5.
After a grueling first day of match-play, she locked in for the quarterfinals Thursday morning, upsetting the No. 1 ranked player from qualifying, Georgia commit Riley Rennell. Dunn made quick work to advance to the semifinals, defeating Rennell 6 and 5 to set up a match-up with Katherine Holmes in the afternoon.
"Match play is physically and mentally exhausting," Dunn said. "You are not playing for a score but instead trying to beat your opponent. You have to be on the top of your game on every hole. But it's still the best tournament and my favorite tournament of the summer."
The Baylor School product boasted a tactical advantage, playing on her home course at the Chattanooga Golf & Country Club. Dunn ignored the fact to clinch a spot in the championship with Belmont's Katie Story, defeating Holmes 3 and 1.
Despite participating in her seventh round of the week in the harsh summer conditions set upon the region, Dunn buckled in and outlasted her Ohio Valley Conference foe, taking home the Tennessee Women's Amateur Championship 2-up.
"She's an outstanding young lady that works hard," Brown added, "and it was just a thrill to see her succeed and pull it off today. It was a great feeling to watch her do what she did and know what a great caliber player we have joining our team for the next three years."
Photo by Polk Brown
