University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational
Williams Cards Career-Best in Round 2 of RCTHI
October 15, 2016 | Women's Golf
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Freshman Micheala Williams turned in a career-low score and the best 18-hole score for Tennessee (8th place) so far this season in the second round of the Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational on Saturday. She carded a five-under 67.
Team Scores
- T1. Wake Forest: 282-287--569 (-7)
- T1. Alabama: 285-284--569 (-7)
- 3. Ohio State: 283-287--570 (-6)
Player Scores
- 1. Jennifer Kupcho (Wake Forest): 67-68--135 (-9)
- 2. Lauren Stephenson (Alabama): 68-70--138 (-6)
- T3. Nikolette Schroeder (Ohio State): 68-72--140 (-4)
- T3. Alana Uriell (Arkansas): 70-70--140 (-4)
Tennessee Scores
- Team (8th Place): 294-291--585 (+9)
- T5. Micheala Williams: 74-67--141 (-3)
- T18. Blakesly Warren: 72-73--145 (+1)
- T23. Anna Newell: 74-72--146 (+2)
- T75. Teleri Hughes: 74-81--155 (+11)
- T75. Hannah Pietila: 76-79--155 (+11)
- *T75. Emmie Pietila: 75-80--155 (+11)
- *Competed as an individual
"The first round I played well until the last three holes, so this round I made sure I took it one hole at a time," said Williams. "Coach Mandy [Moore] walked with me the last four holes to help keep me focused and that helped a lot."
The newcomer tallied seven birdies total and was two-under-par on the front nine of the par-72, 6,379-yard UNC Finley Golf Course. Three consecutive birdies on holes 12-14 lowered her relation to par to five-under. Williams finished the round with only two bogeys.
"My iron game was solid today and gave me a lot of birdie opportunites and that will give me confidence going into tomorrow," added Williams.
For the Athens, Ala., native, who is tied for fifth with a total of 141 (-3), it was the second sub-70 round of her career. The other round (68) came during the final round of the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship.
In addition to William's phenomenal performance, juniors Anna Newell and Blakesly Warren turned in great rounds for the Vols. Newell, the 65th-ranked player in the nation, posted an even-par 72 to move up 12 spots into a tie for 23rd place. Warren shot 73 (+1) and enters the final round tied for 18th place.
The rest of Tennessee's lineup struggled during the second round of play, as UT carded a three-over 291 team score to make their two-day total 585 (+9). The Vols remain in eighth place.
"We need to have four good rounds tomorrow to finish up well," said Head Coach Judi Pavon. "Today, we had three great scores, but the low round got taken away by the high fourth and fifth scores."
After carding a seven-over 76 on Friday, senior Hannah Pietila tallied a 9-over 81. She is tied for the 75th spot in the individual standings.
Fellow senior Teleri Hughes carded a nine-over 81 and is also tied for 75th place with a total of 155 (+11).
Emmie Pietila, who is competing as an individual in the tournament, followed a first round 75 with an eight-over 80. Her total of 155 ties her with Hannah Pietila and Hughes.
The Big Orange will tee off from holes six through nine in a shotgun start at 9:15 a.m. ET for Sunday's final round in groups with No. 24 South Carolina and No. 12 North Carolina.
Golfstat's No. 1 Alabama caught up to No. 21 Wake Forest to tie for first place at seven-under-par. The two programs have a one-shot lead over No. 23 Ohio State who turned in a round of 287 to total 570 (-6).
Wake Forest's Jennifer Kupcho will head into Sunday's final round with the individual lead after totaling 135 (67-68, -6) over the first two days.
Live scoring of the 2016 Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational can be found at www.golfstat.com.
For the most up-to-date information about the Tennessee women's golf team, visit UTSports.com/w-golf, follow @Vol_WGolf on Twitter and like the Vols at Facebook.com/UTWomensGolf.
