WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – A fresh start for the Radford women's golf team paid immediate dividends as a strong showing landed the team a fourth-place finish at the William & Mary Fall Invitational to open the 2023-24 season.
The Highlanders looked absolutely brilliant in the first round, shooting a 294 to move into second place through 18 holes. The team's youth showed a bit at times, leading to scores of 304 and 306 in the next two rounds, but overall it was a great start to the year.
Macy Johnson,
Mckenzie Weddle,
Grace Addison and
Caroline Gilreath all made their collegiate debuts at the tournament.
Johnson led the way, tying for 9
th thanks to a 72-74-78—224 (+8) scoring line. The Salem High School product birdied three holes in the first round alone before adding two more the rest of the week.
Hannah Lindemann consistently paced Radford last season and her success carried over as she tied for 16
thin the field of 51 golfers. Her best round was also the first one, when she carded a 2-over par 74.
Weddle got her collegiate debut started in style, shooting an opening-round 75 that featured four birdies that came on a pair of separate back-to-back holes. She then added three birdies in the second round and two in the third round, both of which ended with a 5-over par 77.
Like Weddle,
Shea Smith's best round of the tournament came in the first 18 holes as the sophomore shot an excellent 73 that had one birdie and just two bogeys. Her second round (80) was more uneven, but did include two birdies, and then she bounced back with a solid 76 to close things out.
Playing as an individual, Gilreath showed well with progressively better scores throughout her time in Williamsburg. She shot a first-round 78 and then followed it up with a 76 and a 75. She birdied the 5
th hole twice and had a trio of birdies on the back nine of the third round to finish strong.
Rounding out Radford's performances was Addison, who got better with each round. The Abingdon native struggled a bit on the back nine of the first round but looked solid the rest of the tournament, collection four birdies overall.
COURSE INFORMATION
- Kingsmill Resort River Course
- Par 72
- 6,200 yards
TEAM RESULTS
4
th | Radford | +40 | 294-304-306
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
T-9
th |
Macy Johnson | +8 | 72-74-78—224
T-17
th |
Hannah Lindemann | +12 | 74-76-78—228
T-19
th |
Mckenzie Weddle | +13 | 75-77-77—229
T-19
th |
Shea Smith | +13 | 73-80-76—229
T-19
th |
Caroline Gilreath | +13 | 78-76-75—229
T-28
th |
Grace Addison | +14 | 78-77-75—230
UP NEXT
The Highlanders head to Elon, N.C. next weekend for the Elon Women's Invitational at Alamance Country Club. The tournament will take place on Monday, Sept. 18 and Tuesday, Sept. 19.
FOLLOW WOMEN'S GOLF
For more information on the Radford women's golf team follow @RadfordWGOLF on Twitter and Instagram or Radford Women's Golf on Facebook.
