MT holds onto 12th spot on final day in Knoxville

Monday, September 12

Knoxville, TN - Cherokee Country Club

Middle Tennessee

Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship

9/13/2016 1:43:00 PM | Women's Golf

Mercedes-Benz Final Results

By: @MTAthletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee held its spot in the final 18 holes of the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate on Tuesday, charting a 12th place finish in a talented field in Knoxville to open the 2016-17 season.

The Blue Raiders carded a 16-over par 300 on the final day of competition to finish at 47-over (302-297-300=899), three strokes ahead of C-USA foe UTSA (302-302-298=902) while also topping Memphis (307-298-299=904) and Virginia Tech (310-296-308=914).

"We didn't play as well as we had hoped today so that we could chase some of the teams ahead of us, but for the first tournament of the season we did okay," Head Coach Chris Adams said.

Senior Samantha Gotcher was the top finisher for the Blue Raiders on the final day and in the final standings.

The Clarksville, Tenn., native carded a 2-over 73 on the final day to finish at 7-over (76-71-73=220) and tied for 35th in the championship.

Hanley Long held the second best 54-hole score for the Blue Raiders with her third round 76 (+5) leaving her in 53rd at 12-over par (75-74-76=225).

Fellow sophomore Jenna Burris landed in a tie for 54th at Cherokee Country Club with a three-day total of 13-over par (74-77-75=226) after her 4-over performance on the final day.

Senior Lacie York continued to look much improved over her opening round by posting a 5-over 76 in round three to finish tied for 75th at 26-over (88-75-76=239).

True freshman Katherine Holmes rounded out the Blue Raider lineup in a tie for 78th place with a three-round total of 29-over par (77-79-86=242).

The Blue Raiders force a short break of just one day before beginning their practice round Thursday at the Vanderbilt Legends Club in preparation for the Mason Rudolph Invitational.

"Samantha, Hanley and Jenna were pretty consistent for us yesterday and today," Adams added. "We have some work ahead of us this week but not much time either with the short turnaround before we go to Vanderbilt."

The competition, hosted by Vanderbilt, runs Friday-Sunday while the Blue Raiders will be making their second appearance in the prestigious event after finishing tied for 12th alongside South Carolina and Baylor last season.