APSU Sports Information: APSU Golf
Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University women’s golf team is set to host its only home event of the year when the 13th Annual F&M Bank APSU Intercollegiate is played Monday and Tuesday at The Links at Novadell in Hopkinsville, KY.
This is the first season for the women’s portion of the 36-hole F&M to be played at the par-72, 6,008-yard Novadell layout-the men’s tourney will be played at the Hopkinsville course next week. In addition to the host Lady Govs, five other Ohio Valley Conference teams will be participating-Murray State, Jacksonville State, Eastern Kentucky, Tennessee Tech and Tennessee State. Also in the 10-team field are Belmont, Lipscomb, Evansville and Western Kentucky.
After the Lady Govs garnered a second-place finish at SIU-Edwardsville’s tourney almost two weeks ago, Austin Peay head coach Sara Robson is excited her team will be able to show its wares to family, friends and supporters.
“We have spent our last week and a half working on scoring and confidence,” Robson said. “The girls have been playing well and are ready for our home event. They enjoy getting to stay at home and play. We always have a number of spectators and volunteers come out and support the event. For that we are grateful. ”
All eight Lady Govs will play in the event, five-junior Lauren Bond, sophomore Rachel Deaton, senior Ashley Averitt, freshman Marta Gutierrez and junior Holly Batey-representing the Austin Peay team while the remaining three-sophomores Tabitha Beard and Tala Mumford along with freshman Meghan Mueller-playing as individuals.
“The key to us playing well this week will be for us to relax and enjoy what we are doing,” Robson said. “The girls seem to be putting way too much pressure on themselves in competition. We have a very talented and committed team, they just need to trust in their abilities and relax.
“It is a privilege to be able to work with these young women; they come to practice day in and day out and give 100 percent all the time. That hard work is going to pay off. They just need to be patient.”
The Lady Govs finished fourth a year ago, with Murray State claiming the title with a tourney record-low 604 for 36 holes. Austin Peay has won twice in 12 years, but not since 2002.
