Long concludes record-setting career in NCAA Regional

Wednesday, May 8

Auburn, AL

All Day

Middle Tennessee

NCAA Auburn Regional

5/8/2019 4:28:00 PM | Women's Golf, BRAA

Photo Gallery

Exits Middle Tennessee with four school records

By: @MTAthletics

Final Results

AUBURN, Ala. – Senior Hanley Long's illustrious college golf career came to a close Wednesday afternoon in a fashion fitting of her career success as she birdied two of her final five holes at the NCAA Auburn Regional to leave the 18^th green with her trademark smile.

"I'm very grateful for the opportunities Middle Tennessee, Coach Adams, and the game of golf have given me," Long said. "I couldn't have asked for a better way to finish off my college career than being able to play postseason golf."

Long will close out her career with four school records to her name, most notably as the program's all-time leader in career (74.27) and single season (72.66) stroke average.

One of the many highlights of Long's senior season came at the Memphis Women's Intercollegiate when she placed second with a school record 54-hole total of 206. She also shares the school record for single season rounds of par or better with 12 on the year.

Long's postseason appearance was hampered slightly by a lingering back injury, but her competitive nature saw her take on the talented field with everything she had to post solid rounds of 74, 76 and 75.

A 54-hole total of 9-over par 225 placed Long in a tie for 51^st in the field of 96 of the nation's best college golfers. Long topped a handful of Top 100 ranked golfers in the process while matching the No. 6 ranked golfer in the nation, Auburn's Julie McCarthy, step-for-step on one of Auburn's home courses.

"What a great week for Hanley and for our program," Head Coach Chris Adams said. "I'm so proud of the way she fought through a little adversity this week and finished strong in her final holes. She has been an unbelievable representative of our team, athletic department and university the past four years and I'm so glad that she got to go out with a second chance to play in the postseason."

"Hanley and Jenna (Burris) have been great role models for their younger teammates and are a perfect example of the type of person we want to continue building our program around. They have continued advancing the standard for this program and their success will help us in scheduling, recruiting and all other facets for years to come."

On the week, Long tied for 11^th in Par 5 scoring at 2-under par (4.83) while her eight birdies tied for 20^th in the field on a course where only 12 golfers logged double-digit birdies in 54 holes.

The Clarksville native came close to a number of other records during her time in Murfreesboro, finishing second all-time in career rounds of par or better (31), tied for third in career Top 5 finishes (7), fourth in career rounds played (113).

Long's career low round of 66 and career low 36-hole total of 142 both tied for second in the MT record book while she owned three of the program's four freshman records until this season, when she was passed in each category by fab freshman Catherine Caudill.

"As proud as I am of all the great things I accomplished here individually, I'm even more proud of the growth and future of this program," Long added. "One of my main goals was to keep the program going strong throughout my career and beyond, and I think Jenna and I take great pride in where this program is headed."

With her incredible career at Middle Tennessee now over, Long plans to continue her golf career at the professional level and will take on LPGA Q-School beginning in August.