University of Tennessee Athletics
Pietila's Debut Fuels Lady Vols
September 08, 2013 | Women's Golf
Sep 8, 2013
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Tennessee women's golf team opened up its 2013-14 season at the 11th annual Cougar Classic. After one round of play, the Lady Vols sit tied for T-13th place.
"I thought we had a pretty good beginning to our season," head coach Judi Pavon said. "We got off to a good start on the front nine. However, we ran into a little bit of trouble on the back nine, particularly holes 10 through 13."
On Sunday, the Lady Vols started strong at the Yeamans Hall Club with a combined seven birdies. However, the ladies encountered a rough patch that led to their first round total of 299 (+11).
Coach Pavon saw contributions from all of her starting five, but one freshman from Brighton, Mich., impressed.
"I was really proud of all of our girls. Hannah (Pietila) played really well," Pavon said. "She had a few rough spots, but finished strong with an eagle. She even had a chance to shoot a little lower than she did. All in all, it was a really good performance for her first tournament."
Hannah Pietila made the most of her first collegiate start. The freshman shot a 73 (+1) that was highlighted by an eagle on the 18th hole.
Veteran leader Chessey Thomas also chipped in to aid the Lady Vol effort. The senior from Spokane, Wash., carded a 75 (+3) which included a birdie on the 8th hole.
In the first round of the Cougar Classic, Mason Chen and Lucia Polo proved that the Lady Vols international ties are strong. Chen, a native of Taiwan, shot a 76 (+4) with two birdies and four bogeys. Polo, a native of Guatemala, carded a 75 (+3) with two birdies and three bogeys.
"Mason (Chen) and Lucia (Polo) also did really well," Pavon said. "I think they were definitely a little nervous, but they are coming along."
As for the rest of the field at the Cougar Classic, NC State's Brittany Marchand and Mississippi State's Ally McDonald shot the lowest round of the day with 66 (-6) which ties as the second-lowest round in the 11-year history of the tournament. South Carolina's Samantha Swinehart also made a hole-in-one on the 6th hole (par-3).
On Monday, Tennessee will tee off at 10:15 a.m. ET for the second round of the Cougar Classic.
Volunteer fans can continue to keep up with the team by following @LadyVol_Golf on Twitter.
| TEAM SCORES (Through One Round) | ||
| 1. | Mississippi State | 282 (-6) |
| T-2. | South Carolina | 285 (-3) |
| T-2. | Clemson | 285 (-3) |
| T-4. | NC State | 287 (-1) |
| T-4. | Wake Forest | 287 (-1) |
| T-6. | College of Charleston | 289 (+1) |
| T-6. | Baylor | 289 (+1) |
| 8. | Florida | 291 (+3) |
| T-9. | Auburn | 295 (+7) |
| T-9. | LSU | 295 (+7) |
| T-11. | Furman | 298 (+10) |
| T-11. | Wisconsin | 298 (+10) |
| T-13. | Penn State | 299 (+11) |
| T-13. | Tennessee | 299 (+11) |
| T-13. | Maryland | 299 (+11) |
| 16. | Missouri | 302 (+14) |
| 17. | Coastal Carolina | 303 (+15) |
| 18. | Ole Miss | 305 (+17) |
| 19. | UNCG | 314 (+26) |
| 20. | Charleston Southern | 329 (+41) |
| INDIVIDUAL LEADERS (Through One Round) | ||
| T-1. | Brittany Marchand, NC State | 66 (-6) |
| T-1. | Ally McDonald, Mississippi State | 66 (-6) |
| 3. | Marissa Dodd, Wake Forest | 68 (-4) |
| UT SCORES (Through One Round) | ||
| T-26. | Hannah Pietila | 73 (+1) |
| T-47. | Chessey Thomas | 75 (+3) |
| T-47. | Lucia Polo | 75 (+3) |
| T-61. | Mason Chen | 76 (+4) |
| T-82. | *Emmie Pietila | 78 (+6) |
| T-91. | AJ Newell | 79 (+7) |
