By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information

HOOVER, Ala. – The Tennessee Tech women's golf team closed out the final two rounds of play at the Hoover Invite Tuesday afternoon, snapping a tie for 10th with Kennesaw State from Monday's opening round.

Alabama claimed the title at Hoover Country Club by nine shots after firing rounds of 296, 286, and 289 for an 871 overall for the week. The Golden Eagles ranked 10th, topping the Owls of KSU by two strokes with a 917 total and rounds of 297 and 311. Samford's Gabi Nicastro picked up individual medalist honors after rolling out a 211 with a top round of 68. 

The Cookeville crew got its lead from sophomore Chloe Griffith, who dialed up a top-10 finish by tying for ninth with a 2-over 218 for the week. The youngster carded four birdies in the second round on her way to an even-par 72 and followed it up with three more, plus 12 pars, to turn in another 72 in round three.

Freshman Kailey Lane opened the day by finishing off a second-round 74, backed by a pair of birdies, and closed it with a 77 in the third round, featuring one birdie and 12 pars. She tied for 42nd overall with a 232. 

A trio of Golden Eagles tied for 60th with three-round totals of 237, including Reagan Stuke, Sydney Branson, and Kaydi Rhodes. The senior Stuke produced rounds of 77 and 85 with three total birdies while Rhodes turned in six birdies with scores of 76 and 78. Branson, competing as an individual, produced a one-birdie 79 and a single-birdie 80.

Just one shot back of her teammates, Cookeville native Lexus Julian capped off her second round of a 75 with one birdie and the first ace of her collegiate career, dropping it in the par-3 eighth hole in one shot Monday afternoon. She followed it up with an 84 in the final round. 

Rounding out the Tech group competing as an individual, sophomore Lydia Baker tallied a 79 with two birdies in the second round. She closed out the week with a 258 total and a third round of 85.

Next up for the purple and gold on the schedule is Toledo's Rocket Classic running Monday, Sept. 30 through Tuesday, Oct. 1. The 54-hole event will take place at Catawba Island Golf Club in Port Clinton, Ohio. 

Photo by Sheryl Lowery