The Memphis Tigers women’s golf team finished in fifth place at the American Athletic Conference Championship in Hammock Beach, Florida, on Tuesday.
Freshman Michaela Fletcher led the Tigers finishing in fifth spot overall in the individual standings. She had an overall score of 215, and finished 1-under par for the tournament.
Memphis women’s golf coach Beth Harrelson said Fletcher will be a significant part of the Lady Tiger’s golf youth movement in the future.
"I'm really proud of the girls," Harrelson said. "I'm extremely proud. We finished ahead of Tulane, who is ranked in the top 25 and that's our first win this season over a top 25 team. I'm absolutely looking forward to the future, we're young and hungry and I think they'll come out next year and surprise some people."
The four teams who finished ahead of the Lady Tigers were all in the top-48 women golf teams in the country, including no. 23 University of Central Florida Lady Knights who won the competition, but like Harrelson said the Tigers managed to finish ahead of the no. 25 ranked Tulane Green Wave which shows just how tough the AAC is in terms of women’s golf.
Fletcher’s fifth-place finish is the highest finish for a Memphis Lady Tiger at a conference championship tournament since current LPGA member Marissa Steen finished with individual medalist runner-up honors in 2011 in the Tigers old conference, Conference USA.
The South African native became just the eighth player in Memphis history to finish top five at a conference championship tournament.
Nevertheless, Memphis finished 19 strokes off of first. However, it wasn’t for a lack of standout and solid performers for the Lady Tigers.
Memphis senior Natalie Turk had a strong performance in possibly her last tournament for the Blue and Gray. She had a final score of 224 which bested her previous career-high by seven strokes.
“Natalie (Turk) had the best tournament of her college career," Harrelson said. "For her to be able to do that in her senior season is incredible."
Senior Ashley Kees produced a solid three rounds of golf as the Indiana native matched her second round 74 with another 74 on Tuesday to finish with a three-day total score of 227. Kees finished in a tie for 26th overall in her final round of collegiate golf.
Lady Tigers sophomore Leighann Cabush and freshman Emily Goldenstein each finished in a tie for 29th with a 54-hole total of 228.
Cabush posted a day three 80 to end up in a tie, while Goldenstein produced a strong third round score of 75 to wrap up her first AAC conference tournament.
The Lady Tigers will learn their NCAA postseason faith on April 27 when the NCAA will announce the women's golf teams and individuals that qualified for the NCAA Regional round on the Golf Channel at 5 p.m.
The four regionals sites are: Raleigh, North Carolina; South Bend, Indiana; San Antonio, Texas; St. George, Utah, and the Regionals will be from May 7-9.
The 2015 Memphis Lady Tigers women's golf team. The Lady Tigers were victors at two tournaments this year. Photo by Joe Murphy
