Lady Tops Finish Second at Idle Hour Collegiate Championship

Tuesday, October 31

Macon, Ga.

Western Kentucky University

Hosted by Mercer

Photo by: Steve Roberts, WKU Athletics

Lady Tops Finish Second at Idle Hour Collegiate Championship

10/31/2017 3:19:00 PM | Women's Golf

MACON, Ga. — The WKU Lady Topper golf team finished its fall season on a high note Tuesday, taking second place with five top-25 performances in Mercer's Idle Hour Collegiate Championship.

The Lady Toppers recorded a 916 (298-305-313) total, second only to the host and champion Mercer, which shot a 907 at the par-72, 6,166-yard Idle Hour Golf & Country Club.

WKU entered Tuesday's final round tied for first place with Mercer, and both squads were 18 shots ahead of the third-place team at that time.

"It was fun to be in contention, but tough not to come away with the win," WKU head coach Adam Gary said. "Mercer is a top-75 team in the country and playing on their home course. I think we learned from being in the lead, and that will help us as we move into the spring."

Senior Georgina Blackman tied for third in the tournament with a 223 (75-70-78) total, which was her best result of the season. Blackman finished in the top six in three of her four fall events, and she's finished seventh or better in seven of her last eight tournaments dating back to last season.

Sophomore Abigail Smee turned in the best performance of her career, tying for ninth with a career-low 229 (72-81-76) total. Sophomore Bailey Tyree also tied for ninth – the best result of her career – at 229 (75-78-76) while playing as an individual.

Sophomore Mary Joiner, the defending individual champion at Idle Hour, tied for 20th at 232 (74-78-80). Joiner had three top-20 finishes in the fall.

Freshman Megan Clarke earned the second top-25 finish of her rookie campaign by tying for 25th at 234 (77-76-81). Senior Katie Story ended her tournament at 245 (83-83-79), but carded her best round of the event Tuesday and factored into the team score.

The Lady Toppers registered two second-place finishes as a team in the fall, including the Pirate Collegiate Classic in September. They also registered 15 top-25 individual performances, eight top-10s and three top-fives.

WKU will return to the course in the spring at the Edwin Watts Kiawah Island Classic on Feb. 25-27 in Kiawah Island, S.C.

Idle Hour Collegiate Championship Final Results
T3. Georgina Blackman (75-70-78-223)
T9. Abigail Smee (72-81-76-229)
T9. Bailey Tyree (75-78-76-229)
T20. Mary Joiner (74-78-80-232)
T25. Megan Clarke (77-76-81-234)
T53. Katie Story (83-83-79-245)