Posted by Gregory Ruff - Tue, Apr 21, 2009 - [Women's Golf] - Viewed 1946 times
Tournament Recap
DICKSON, Tenn. - Trevecca Nazarene took the 2009 TranSouth Athletic Conference Women's Golf Championship for the fifth year in a row. The 36-hole TranSouth Tournament was held at the challenging Greystone Golf Club in Dickson, Tenn. Trevecca's Ashley Birdwell, a freshman from Donelson Christian Academy, was the Tournament Medalist and TranSouth Freshman of the Year. Birdwell carded a (85-84) 169 for the championship. The course played to a par of 72 over 6004 yards in wet and windy conditions both days.
Trevecca led after 18-holes of play Trevecca (348) over Bethel (351) by three strokes. Martin Methodist (372) and Lyon College (382) rounded out the tournament field. Trevecca (348-355, 703) edged Bethel (351-353, 704) by one stroke for the Championship. Martin Methodist (372-372, 744) was third and Lyon College (382-387, 769) was fourth.
Michael Johnson of Trevecca was named the TranSouth Coach of the Year for the fifth consecutive season.
The TranSouth All-Tournament team included; Ashley Birdwell (Trevecca), Baillie Johnson (Bethel), Emily Muse (Bethel), Betsy Beaver (Trevecca), Brooke Dillehay (Trevecca), and Jessica Castleman (Bethel).
Trevecca advances to the 2009 the 15th Annual NAIA Women's Golf National Championships will be held May 12-15 at the Meadowbrook Municipal Golf Course in Rapid City, South Dakota. It is the first time the Trevecca women's team has advanced to the NAIA National Championship.
Coach Johnson sweated out the final few holes, and commented, "I didn't know for sure if we could hang on but our ladies showed some real character in winning. The Bethel team played so well this year and really put on a late charge today. I feel for them in that they came so close, but at the same time I couldn't be happier for my team."
With just four players for TNU, it is literally the case that "every stroke counts," as coach Johnson said. "I can't say enough how happy I am that our team has a chance now to get to that national tournament that has seemed so elusive. So this is not just for us, but all the other ladies who came so close over the years. We've set a couple of records this year and showed a lot of class in the process, even when we were struggling to shoot good scores."
The course architect was Mark McCumber and opened in 1998. Former PGA Pro Bob Wolcott was the original Golf Pro at the course. The course has hosted several significant events in its short history. It was the home to the Men's and Women's Tennessee State Open from 1999-2003. It has also hosted U.S. Open First Round Qualifying twice, the home of the Monday Qualifying for the BellSouth Senior PGA Tournament, and the home of the 2004 1st Stage PGA Tour School Qualifying.
All-TranSouth/All-Tournament Awards Team Champion - Trevecca Nazarene Medalist/Player of the Year - Ashley Birdwell All-Tournament/All-TranSouth - Ashley Birdwell, Freshman of the Year - Ashley Birdwell Coach of the Year - Michael Johnson, Trevecca
TranSouth Women's Golf Scholar-Athletes
Bethel College
Hayley Williams
Lyon College Meredith Davis, Jennifer Flegel, Charli Steed, Chelsea Wilson
Martin Methodist
Jessica Holt
Trevecca Nazarene
Alyssa Moe, Betsy Beaver
2009 NAIA Women's Golf Championships
15th Annual Women's Golf Championships May 12-15, 2009 Meadowbrook Municipal G.C. Rapid City, South Dakota
If rain eliminates play on day one the tournament will be 18 holes played on day two.
If rain eliminates play on day two the winner will be the highest nationally ranked team in the tournament.
If weather, time and course conditions permit the 18 hole completed tournament could be played 9 holes on day one and 9 holes on day two. Every school in the field would need to complete the same 9 holes each day.
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