KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. -- Freshman Hollee Sadler led the way as the Tennessee Tech women's golf team opened the season on the East Coast this week, wrapping up three challenging rounds in the largest collegiate tournament in the nation with a 34th place finish out of 41 schools. Tech's final round was played at the Oak Point Golf Club, a 5,901-yard, par 72 layout.

Sadler showed consistent play during the three-day event, firing a final round score of 75 on Tuesday for a 54-hole total of 228 after carding totals of 76 and 77 on Sunday and Monday. That put the rookie from Mancherster, Tenn., in a tie for 53rd place overall among the field of 216 individuals. She carded one birdie Tuesday and 13 pars.

Senior Whitney Robertson bounced back on the final day with a 79, closing at 238 to place in a tie for 126th. She had just eight pars but managed to post a pair of birdies on the back nine.

Sophomore newcomer Allyson Dunn was next for coach Polk Brown's team, posting a third round score of 82 to finish at 247 and a tie for 176th place. Haley Davidson (255) and Megan Williamson (258) rounded out the Tech lineup. Davidson shot an 81 Tuesday to match the low round of her Tech career, while Williamson's final scorecard listed an 85.

Coastal Carolina captured the team title with an 871 total, eight shots better than Chattanooga (879) and 13 ahead of third place College of Charleston (884). Tech was edged by Longwood (962), as the Golden Eagles three-day score was 965, 10 strokes ahead of St. John's (975) in 35th place.

OVC members Morehead State and Jacksonville State joined the field. Morehead State finished 13th overall at 910, while JSu finished 17th at 918.


The next outing for the Golden Eagles will be the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate in Sevierville, March 20-22.