UWA women’s golf opens strong in Lady Argonaut Invitational

PENSACOLA, Fla. – West Alabama freshman women’s golfer Savannah Payne matched her season high through two rounds of 159 to land eighth place in the opening day of the Lady Argonaut Invitational at the Stonebrook Golf Club on Monday.

West Alabama finished the first two rounds of the tournament in sixth place with a combined 665. Host school West Florida led the seven team field with 612.

“We were striking the ball great,” said UWA assistant golf coach Natalie Buch.

“Putting is what shut down our scoring. This course has tough fast greens, but our ladies didn’t give up. Savannah had finished third after the first round, and Christine and Jessica each improved in the second 18. It was great to finally play in the warm sunny weather.”

Payne bested her season average in both rounds shooting 77 in the first and 82 in the second.

Tori Smith recorded her best two round score of the spring of 167 to land in 22nd place. She matched her best individual round score of the spring, carding 80 in round one.

Jessica Smyth improved from 87 in the first round to 84 in the second to finish in 26th. Christine Stryken followed in 29th place with 171.

Heather Gillenwaters finished 37th overall with a combined 183 in her first tournament since February.

The Tigers will wrap up the tournament in the third round set for Tuesday.

Place Golfer Round 1 Round 2 Total

t-8 Savannah Payne 77 82 159

t-22 Tori Smith 80 87 167

t-26 Jessica Smyth 87 81 168

29 Christine Stryken 87 84 171

37 Heather Gillenwaters 92 91 183