Hawkins shines on first day of Lady Moc Classic
LAKELAND, Fla. – Senior Meridith Hawkins (Knoxville, Tenn.) is tied for seventh after shooting a season-low score of 74 during the first round and followed up with a second round 75 during Monday’s two rounds of the Lady Moc Classic hosted by Florida Southern at Grasslands Country Club in Lakeland, Fla.
The senior's two scores were the lowest rounds she has shot this year; her previous low was a 76 in back-to-back rounds at the Smokey Mountain Intercollegiate and Lady Flames Shootout.
The Eagles shot a 311, the team's third-lowest score of the season, after a 337 in the first round and is 14th after the first two rounds. Four of the five players shot a better score in the second round compared to the first at the Lady Moc Classic.
"We had a slow start by the team," coach Suzanne Strudwick said. "A couple of big numbers for Elizabeth, which is out of character for her, prevented a score in the 70s. I'm very pleased with senior Meridith Hawkins, who shot her low score of the year today. We also had a great comeback during the second round. I'm excited for tomorrow."
Sophomore Elizabeth England (Oakland, Tenn.) tied her spring-low score of 77 in the second round after shooting a 10-over 82 during the first round. England dropped five strokes from her first to second round, which is the second-best gain for her this year after recovering eight strokes at the SAC Preview. She is in tied for 56th-place.
Senior Kelli Pemberton (Knoxville, Tenn.) carded a round of 85 during the morning but followed with a 77 to place 70th after the first day. Pemberton's 77 ties her career-best score that she shot twice as a junior and a senior. The most recent time she shot a score that low was at the SAC Preview in November.
Freshman Taylor Hayes (Lake Ozark, Mo.) shot rounds of 86 and 82 to tie for 80th, while senior Rebekah Pruett's (Niceville, Fla.) scores of 91 and 88 tied her for 87th.
Rollins leads the tournament by three strokes over Barry with Seminole State and West Florida tied for third and just five strokes back of the Tars; host Florida Southern rounds out the top-five. The top-eight teams are all within nine strokes of each other.
Lynn's Jenny Ayala leads the individual competition by a stroke over Nicole Ferre of Barry. The top-11 players, including C-N's Hawkins, are all within five strokes of the leader.
The final round of the Lady Mocs' Classic begins on Tuesday morning. A recap and scores will be available on cneagles.com.
14 Carson-Newman 337-311
T7 Meridith Hawkins 74-75 149
T56 Elizabeth England 82-77 159
70 Kelli Pemberton 85-77 162
T80 Taylor Hayes 86-82 168
87 Rebekah Pruett 91-88 179
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