The Chattanooga Mocs are your Southern Conference Women’s Golf Champions. That’s five straight team titles and sophomore Emily McLennan (Queensland, Australia) made it the fourth consecutive sweep winning medalist honors.
McLennan was solid shooting 222 for her 54 holes on a tough week for scoring. She won by four strokes over Furman’s Taylor Totland and was seven clear of teammate Jordan Britt (Chattanooga, Tenn.).
“I’m incredibly proud of myself, especially being able to keep it together on a day like this,” McLennan said. “I’ve had so many tournaments where I’ve had two good rounds and then fell off in the last so I’m very excited.”
McLennan was an impressive four-under par on the difficult par 5’s.
“They’re fairly short, but they’re very difficult…very tight,” she added. “We had a game plan and I just stuck to that plan every day.”
Today’s round was marred by heavy rains. Moss Creek Golf Club held off the downpour allowing the 45 competitors to complete the 54-hole event. The Mocs started the day one off the pace set by the Paladins, but took little time in taking the lead.
They flipped the margin which grew to as many as eight in the rain. It grew as close as two late before Chattanooga pulled away. Junior Porsche Campbell (Vancouver, Canada) came through in the clutch finishing with back-to-back birdies in the heaviest of the day’s rain.
McLennan’s 74 led the way followed by Isabella Loza (Bucaramanga, Colombia) with a steady 76. Campbell turned in 78, while Britt and Agathe Sauzon (Valence, France) had matching 80’s. McLennan, Britt (3rd), Loza (T6) and Sauzon (T10) recorded top 10’s for the Mocs.
“We just keep getting it done,” Murray said. “We prepare well and execute when we get here. We knew today was going to be tough and we really stuck to our game plan.
“I’m absolutely delighted for Emily with the win, and for Jordan as well,” she concluded. “This isn’t the end for her. I’m as pleased as punch.”
The win was made that much sweeter with the naming of Britt and Murray as the league’s Player and Coach of the Year. Britt was joined on the All-SoCon team by McLennan and Sauzon.
Chattanooga awaits the NCAA Selection Show which is Monday, April 28, at 9 p.m., on NCAA.com. There are 72 teams and 18 individuals picked to compete at three regional sites in Tallahassee, Fla., Stillwater, Okla., and Cle Elum, Wash.
SOUTHERN CONFERENCE AWARDS
Player of the Year: Jordan Britt, Chattanooga
Freshman of the Year: Taylor Totland, Furman
Coach of the Year: Colette Murray, Chattanooga
All-SoCon
Jordan Britt, Chattanooga
Emily McLennan, Chattanooga
Agathe Sauzon, Chattanooga
Kelsey Badmaev, Elon
Sunna Vidisdottir, Elon
Valentina Romero, Furman
Taylor Totland, Furman
Bailey Gray, Samford
Kristin Swindell, Western Carolina
Lauren Dunbar, Wofford
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Kelsey Badmaev, Elon
Taylor Totland, Furman
Sydney Needham, Samford
Olivia Landino, Western Carolina
Katy Funk, Wofford