By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. – It was an impressive start on day one of the 11th Annual Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate for the Tennessee Tech women's golf team Sunday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles concluded the first round of action on the Highlands Course at Sevierville Golf Club.
The purple and gold ranked third among the 10 teams in competition, totaling a 312 overall. Lincoln Memorial and Bowling Green tied for first place overall, racking up matching scores of 307.
Freshman standout Chloe Griffith not only led the Golden Eagles on the day, she also paced the field of 60 individual golfers. The rookie fired an even-par 71 on the power of four birdies and 10 pars, leading by example for the Tech squad.
Senior Ainsley Simms locked down a top-15 position by tying for 14th with a score of 78. The veteran recorded a pair of birdies in her first trip around the course. Competing as an individual, rookie Lexus Julian also tied for 14th with a 78, using two birdies of her own to go along with seven pars on the back nine alone.
Not far behind, Kaydi Rhodes tied for 22nd behind two birdies, tallying an 80 overall. Sydney Branson tied for 25th while taking part as an individual, carding an 81 with 10 pars.
Next among the Golden Eagle lineup, Gittle Sciolis and Reagan Stuke each contributed an 83 to the mix, tying for 34th overall. A senior, Sciolis tacked on nine pars while Stuke chipped in a birdie and eight pars.
Lydia Baker rounded out the Tech participants, taking part as an individual and tying for 50th with a 90.
Round two of the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate will kick off with tee times off the first and 10th holes, starting at 8:30 a.m. CT.
| Top 5 Teams: | ||||||
| T-1. | Lincoln Memorial | 307=307 | +23 | |||
| T-1. | Bowling Green | 307=307 | +23 | |||
| 3. | Tennessee Tech | 312=312 | +28 | |||
| 4. | Carson-Newman | 317=317 | +33 | |||
| T-5. | Eastern Michigan | 321=321 | +37 | |||
| T-5. | Christian Brothers | 321=321 | +37 | |||
| Leaderboard (60 Golfers) | ||||||
| 1. | Chloe Griffith | 71=71 | E | |||
| T-14. | Lexus Julian (I) | 78=78 | +7 | |||
| T-14. | Ainsley Simms | 78=78 | +7 | |||
| T-22. | Kaydi Rhodes | 80=80 | +9 | |||
| T-25. | Sydney Branson (I) | 81=81 | +10 | |||
| T-34. | Reagan Stuke | 83=83 | +12 | |||
| T-34. | Gittle Sciolis | 83=83 | +12 | |||
| T-50. | Lydia Baker (I) | 90=90 | +19 | |||
File photo by Emily Armstrong
