Vols Cruise to Top-5 Finish at Tar Heel Invite

October 16, 2016 | Women's Golf

Oct. 16, 2016

Team and Individual Scores

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Paced by freshman Micheala Williams and junior Blakesly Warren, the Tennessee women's golf team moved up into a tie for fifth place on the final day of the UNC Tar Heel Invitational.

Team Scores

1. Wake Forest: 282-287-285--854 (-10)
2. Alabama: 285-284-290--859 (-5)
3. Arkansas: 286-287-287--860 (-4)

Player Scores

1. Jennifer Kupcho (Wake Forest): 67-68-66--201 (-15)
2. Lauren Stephenson (Alabama): 68-70-69--207 (-9)
3. Alana Uriell (Arkansas): 70-70-70--210 (-6)

Tennessee Scores

Team (Tied for 5th Place): 294-291-288--873 (+9)
4. Micheala Williams: 74-67-70--211 (-5)
T9. Blakesly Warren: 72-73-69--214 (-2)
21. Anna Newell: 74-72-73--219 (+3)
T73. Hannah Pietila: 76-79-76--231 (+15)
*T76. Emmie Pietila: 75-80-77--232 (+16)
T83. Teleri Hughes: 74-81-79--234 (+18)
*Competed as an individual

"This was a really good finish for our team in this really strong field," said Head Coach Judi Pavon. "Today's even par round was really nice to see. In our last two tournaments we have not had a great last round."

UT was one of three teams in the 18-team field to card scores of par or better in the tournament's final round, firing an even-par 288 to wrap up the 54-hole invitational at the UNC Finley Golf Course. The Big Orange's three-day total of 873 is the team's second-best mark of the season, behind the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship (865).

"Micheala had a great tournament. This was a good golf course and a tough field and a top-five finish was very impressive. She is playing with a lot of confidence," stated Pavon.

Putting together the lowest 54-hole total (211) by a Volunteer this season, Williams posted a two-birdie, bogey-free round for the Volunteers on the final day. She carded the best finish by a Tennessee freshman since Anna Newell tied for second at the 2014 Golfweek Conference Challenge.

"It was a really solid tournament and gives me a lot of confidence for next week," added Williams.

Warren, who led the Orange and White on the final day, carded three-under-par in the round. Her total of 214 (-2) tied her for ninth place. The finish marks Warren's second top-10 placement of the season.

"Blakesly also had a great tournament," commented Pavon. "She was solid the first two days but then finished with some late birdies to break 70 and finish in the top-10.

"Anna was really consistent and good again this week. She didn't hit the ball as well as she would have liked, but she is a great player and made the most of it."

In the Tar Heel Invitational, Newell fired rounds of 74, 72 and 73, respectively, to place 21st. The junior has not finished outside of the top-25 since the 2014 Landfall Tradition (T32).

Hannah Pietila rounded out scoring for the final round, carding 76 (+4). She tied for 73rd place.

Competing as an individual, UT senior Emmie Pietila shot 77 on Sunday to combine for a total of 232 (T76). Fellow senior Teleri Hughes tied for 83rd place in the tournament.

No. 21 Wake Forest, which carded a three-under 285 in round three, took the team title with a three-day total of 854. The Demon Deacons topped No. 1 Alabama (859) and No. 25 Arkansas (860) to finish atop the leaderboard.

Wake Forest's Jennifer Kupcho captured medalist honors by six strokes with a 15-under-par 201.

The Vols now turn their attention to the Maryb S. Kauth Invitational (formerly the Alamo Invitational) in San Antonio, Texas. The tournament will be held Oct. 23-25 at the Briggs Ranch Golf Club.

"We have three players playing very well heading into UTSA and a few doing a lot of good things. We will have a good few days of practice and head to UTSA with some confidence after this tournament," concluded Pavon.

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.