Scott Turner
In Motion Staff Writer
Photo Courtesy of Athletic Department
The first day set the tone for the Lady Falcons’ performance in the tournament.
“The first day we started with at 12 shot lead and shot our best round of the year as a team. It was an incredible start and allowed the whole team to relax and play worry free for the next two days, which allowed their lead to increase drastically,” said Lady Falcons Coach, Laura Brown.
Though initially intended to be four days, inclement weather prevented play the final day of the tournament, a disheartening development for the players. Scores were totaled after the third day and the Lady Falcons won by an impressive 20 stroke lead and a total score of 886 strokes. Second place went to Seminole State with 906 strokes and McLennan Community College coming in third with 957.
In individual player results, the team took the tournament by storm. Tiffany Chan scored first with 216 strokes, followed by So Young Hwang and Mary Dawson, each tied for second with 223. Whitney Stevenson took fifth with 225 and Courtney Cobb came in twelfth with 237. An incredibly impressive finish and also the first time any school has gotten four of the top five spots in this championship.
“The team was incredibly excited when we won. They chased me with a water cooler, we wrote on our car windows, it was great. We had a dinner celebration with everyone and their parents and then met up a few days later to design the rings,” said Brown.
This is championship was the last for the team’s sophomores, who have all received scholarships to attend their next schools. Mary Dawson has been accepted to the University of North Florida; So Young Hwang has been accepted at the University of Southern California; and Jessica Madsen has been accepted at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
The returning sophomores have already decided and been offered scholarships to schools as well, much earlier than usual according to Brown. Tiffany Chan plans to attend the University of Southern California; Whitney Stevenson, Virginia Tech; and Courtney Cobb, the University of North Florida.
Joining them this coming year are Ji Sun Kang, originally from South Korea; Kathleen Duperval, from Jacksonville; and Michelle Hawkins, from Vierra. The addition of their skills to the team has Brown looking forward to the coming year.
“This past year was a great year and this coming year we have the potential to have an even better one. The talent’s there,” Brown said.
The National Junior College Athletic Association Women’s Golf Championship was held May 12-15, at the LPGA International Golf Club in Daytona Beach.