Troy University Athletics
Tuesday, March 31
Atlanta, Ga.
All Day
Troy University
at
John Kirk Panther Classic
Players Mentioned
/ Golf (W)
/ Golf (W)
/ Golf (W)
/ Golf (W)
/ Golf (W)
/ Golf (W)
Photo by: Randy Wilson
Troy Claims Title at Panther Intercollegiate; Cano Cruises to Individual Title
3/31/2015 3:54:00 PM | Golf (W)
STOCKBRIDGE, Georgia – Dominating was the word of the day for the Troy women's golf team as the Trojans claimed their second tournament championship of the season behind a masterful performance in Tuesday's final round of the John Kirk/Panther Intercollegiate at the Eagle's Landing Country Club.
Led by individual champion Fátima Fernández Cano, the Trojans shot even par (288) on a course that was averaging rounds of 7-over par per golfer. Troy's round was nine strokes better than second-place Middle Tennessee and was the third-best round in school history. The Trojans led the field with 40 birdies over the three rounds, eight more than Middle Tennessee and Stetson.
"We had a lot working for us today," head coach Bart Barnes said "We made a lot of birdies today. We came out with the intent to play our best and shoot the round of the day and see if someone could match it. We played aggressive and with confidence today. This was a real index to the type of team we have when we play well."
Troy entered the final round four strokes behind Middle Tennessee and in third place. The Trojans caught their old Sun Belt Conference rival midway through the round and the teams traded the lead back and forth until Troy pulled away over the final four or five holes.
Troy finished 28-over par for the tournament, while Middle Tennessee (+33) was five shots back followed by Western Carolina (+53), Eastern Kentucky (+55) and Georgia State (+56). The Trojans bested three other Sun Belt foes as well as they topped Appalachian State by 34 shots, ULM by 52 shots and South Alabama by 53 strokes.
Cano won individual medalist honors by seven strokes after shooting a 5-under 67 in the final round. The reigning Sun Belt Conference individual champion carded five birdies and an eagle on the day as she posted the second-lowest round in school history; Cano set the school record after shooting a 65 in Troy's last tournament (3M Jaguar Invitational).
Troy has now won three of its last eight tournaments dating back to last year's Sun Belt Conference Championships, which is the next tournament on the schedule for the Trojans, who will carry an 86-33-1 record into the event.
"It's a big deal going into the Sun Belt Championships coming off a win," Barnes said. "For us to put together a couple of really nice rounds and to cap off a tournament on a high note, is big for our confidence."
The Trojans finished with two players in the top 10 after Taylor McGraw carded a 1-under 71 to move from ninth to sixth on the final leaderboard for her second top 10 finish of the year. McGraw had seven birdies on her card in the final round and had a stretch where she birdied four of five holes.
Becca Horner picked up her third top 25 finish of the season as she jumped seven spots up the leaderboard into a tie for 22nd following a 5-over 77 on Tuesday after carding three birdies. Langley Vannoy made the biggest jump of the day as she skyrocketed 27 spots after shooting a 1-over 73 for her second-best round of the spring. The Trojan senior carded three birdies on the day to finish tied for 29th overall.
Sydney Conrad made it a clean sweep for Troy as all five Trojans improved their standing on the leaderboard. Conrad jumped into a tie for 35th place after shooting a 5-over 77 on the day. Competing as individuals, Brooke Spinks finished 62nd after carding a 7-over 79 while Kalyn Hudson tied for 71st after shooting an 8-over 80.
The Sun Belt Conference Championships are set for April 13-15 at the Steelwood Country Club, the same site where Troy won its first Sun Belt championship last season.
Team Standings
1. Troy 302-302-288—892, 2. Middle Tennessee 305-295-297—897, 3. Western Carolina 305-309-303—917, 4. Eastern Kentucky 306-309-304—919, 5. Georgia State 307-297-316—920, 6. Old Dominion 304-307-319—921, 7. Morehead State 304-299-321—924, 8. Appalachian State 316-306-304—926, 9. Elon 312-307-308—927, 10. Florida Gulf Coast 312-310-307—929, 11. Stetson 323-305-313—941, 12. Seattle 320-313-309—942, 13. ULM 312-313-319—944, 14. South Alabama 306-319-320—945, 15. Jacksonville State 322-319-316—957
Individual Leaders
1. Fátima Fernández Cano (Troy) 72-71-67—210, 2. Maggie Simmermache (Old Dominion) 74-72-71—217, 3. Avery George (Middle Tennessee) 74-73-71—218, 4. Sofie Levin (Eastern Kentucky) 76-72-71—219, 5. Lauren Court (Georgia State) 74-69-77—220
Troy Individuals
1. Fátima Fernández Cano 72-71-67—210, 6. Taylor McGraw 73-77-71—221, T22. Becca Horner 76-79-77—232, T29. Langley Vannoy 82-78-73—233, T35. Sydney Conrad 81-76-77—234, 62. Brooke Spinks 80-82-79—241, T71. Kalyn Hudson 82-87-80—249
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