By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech women's golf team knocked out the first two rounds of play at the F&M Bank APSU Intercollegiate Monday, working through 36 holes of action at Clarksville Country Club.
The Golden Eagles posted rounds of 328 and 321, totaling 649 for the first day of play, finishing four shots back of sixth place Bellarmine. Host Austin Peay concluded Monday in first place with a 316-294=610. The Govs' Shelby Pleasant led the individual leaderboard with a 150.
Tech's Makenzie Morton turned in the team's top performance while competing as an individual, ranking second in the field of 59 golfers with a career day. The senior fired a 74-77=151 with five birdies throughout her two rounds.
Right behind her teammate was Ainsley Simms, leading the team effort with a 152 overall to tie for third. The junior turned in scores of 77 and 75, combining for an impressive 2-over overall on the front-9 holes along on the day. She captured three birdies throughout the opening two rounds.
Next on the list for the purple and gold was Katrine Toennessen, ranking 28th overall after rounds of 80 and 82. Totaling 162, the senior carded a pair of birdies on the day. Elisabeth Toennessen tied for 29th in the field after turning in a 164. She managed a birdie after rounds of 83 and 81.
Rookie Kaydi Rhodes was the next to appear on the leaderboard, finishing 42nd while competing as an individual and making her collegiate debut. The freshman contributed back-to-back 85s with her first career birdie for a 170.
Fellow freshman Katilyn Rand tied for 43rd overall, just one stroke back of Rhodes. She tallied a 171 with scores of 88 and 83. Senior Gittle Sciolis produced a 172, tying for 47th with rounds of 88 and 84 to round out the Tech lineup.
The third and final round of the F&M Bank APSU Intercollegiate tees off with another 8:30 a.m. CT shotgun start on Tuesday.
| Top 5 Teams: | ||||||
| 1. | Austin Peay | 316-294=610 | +34 | |||
| 2. | Belmont | 307-312=619 | +43 | |||
| 3. | North Alabama | 314-316=630 | +54 | |||
| 4. | Murray State | 324-309=633 | +57 | |||
| 5. | Jacksonville State | 315-319=634 | +58 | |||
| 7. | Tennessee Tech | 328-321=649 | +73 | |||
| Leaderboard (59 Golfers) | ||||||
| 1. | Shelby Pleasant (Austin Peay) | 80-70=150 | +6 | |||
| 2. | Makenzie Morton* | 74-77=151 | +7 | |||
| T-3. | Ainsley Simms | 77-75=152 | +8 | |||
| 28. | Katrine Toennessen | 80-82=162 | +18 | |||
| T-29. | Elisabeth Toennessen | 83-81=164 | +20 | |||
| 42. | Kaydi Rhodes* | 85-85=170 | +26 | |||
| T-43. | Kaitlyn Rand | 88-83=171 | +27 | |||
| T-47. | Gittle Sciolis | 88-84=172 | +28 | |||
| *competed as an individual | ||||||
File photo by Emily Armstrong