APSU Sports Information
Clarksville, TN – After nearly a month’s break from competition, Austin Peay State University women’s golf team will return to action, Monday and Tuesday, as it plays host to the 17th Annual F&M Bank APSU Intercollegiate at the Clarksville Country Club.
The two-day 36-hole event will be played on the 5,974-yard layout.
The public is invited to watch the tournament free of charge.
The tournament field will have a strong Ohio Valley Conference flavor. In addition to the Lady Govs, Belmont, Murray State, Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech will be participating along with Lipscomb, USC Upstate and Cumberland.
The Lady Govs finished fifth out of 12 teams at the Murray State Invitational back in mid-September, with junior Morgan Gardner finishing second overall—her best career finish—to lead APSU.
Since that tourney the Lady Govs have gained much practice time, including six qualifying rounds working on literally all aspects of their respective games. However, it is the mental aspect that Sara Robson addressed most during the past month.
“Much of what we have worked on is bridging that gap between qualifying and competition,” she said. “The reason for that is they have been qualifying amazingly but then getting into competition and not performing like we are capable. We have worked on that a lot; we have had a lot of competition within the team. They have continued to play well and I believe they are excited to be playing at home. They are realizing how well they can play at the (Clarksville) Country Club. That confidence should help us next week.”
As a result of her second-place finish at Murray State, Gardner was exempt from the qualifying competition. The remaining four steadily performed during the six rounds, spread over nearly three weeks: Senior Jessica Cathey bounced back from a subpar Murray State performance to lead the qualifying effort with a 461, four shots better than freshman Ashton Goodley. Sophomore AnnaMichelle Moore (470) claimed the fourth spot while junior Morgan Kauffman (471) was the fifth qualifier.
The remaining Lady Govs, junior Kelsey Schutt, sophomore Sarah Beth Struble, freshman Taylor Goodley and junior Amber Bosworth, will play as individuals. Sophomore Anna Pope will be unable to play because of a rib issue.
Belmont is the defending tourney champion. The Lady Govs have won their own tourney twice (2000, 2002) and Robson believes her team has the ability to claim a third title this season.
“We have the lineup that shook out in qualifying. Gardner will lead us off after her finish at Murray. We have talked to her about taking that feeling, what she was thinking and why she was so competitive and moving that forward into every competition.
“Jessica, Morgan Kauffman and AnnaMichelle all are in the lineup and have played exceptionally well at the Country Club. Ashton Goodley has come a long way at the Country Club. She played there at an event this summer and learned very quickly what it is going to be like…and has conquered it. She has shot a few rounds below par and will play well for us.”
The Lady Govs originally were going to play two teams at the Country Club but Pope’s injury changed that course.
“We have 10 people on the team and all 10 are capable of getting into the starting five,” she said. “That’s why qualifying has been so intense. It will not surprise me if Kelsey, Taylor, Amber or Sarah play well and finish at the top of the tournament.
“Had Pope not had the injury, I believe the second team could have been as competitive as the first.”
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Sara Robson and APSU women’s golf host the 2015 F&M Bank APSU Intercollegiate, Monday and Tuesday, at the Clarksville Country Club.
