University of Tennessee Athletics
Wednesday, April 14
Birmingham, AL | Greystone Country Club
University of Tennessee
vs
SEC Championship
Gilly Leads Lady Vols Through Opening Round of SEC Championship
April 14, 2021 | Women's Golf
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A career-best round from freshman Vanessa Gilly led the way for the Tennessee women's golf team during Wednesday's opening round of the SEC Championship.
Tennessee concluded round one in tenth place at 2-under, six strokes off the cut line for match play.
Gilly shot 5-under (67) to open the SEC Championship proceedings.
"Vanessa played really well and kept taking advantage of her birdie opportunities as they came," head coach Judi Pavon said. "Micheala Williams-Luck also got off to a strong start. The conditions were perfect today and the course was set up pretty short with a few tees moved up and lots of front pins. We expect it to play a little longer each day and will be ready to adjust."
Gilly brought her best performance of the season when the Lady Vols needed it the most. After the round, she reflected on her day and how she is using previous experiences to help her this week.
"I gave myself a lot of birdie chances and hit a lot of greens today," Gilly said. "That helped my score. I was able to keep the ball on the fairway. That helps a lot on a short course. This tournament reminds me of when I represented Venezuela in the South American Junior Championships. It's the same pressure and the same adrenaline rush."
Gilly made six birdies on the day, including back-to-back birdies on two occasions. After 18 holes, she is tied for fourth place at 5-under and will look to build off the best round of her collegiate career tomorrow.
Micheala Williams-Luck has a flawless start, shooting 2-under before the turn. It's the graduate student's 47thcareer round of par or better, leaving her just one round of par or better shy of tying the second-most rounds of that kind in program history.
Additionally, it's her sixth round of par or better this season and she is positioned in a tie for 30th after a 1-under, 71, performance on Wednesday.
Sophomore Nicole Whiston wrapped up round one on a positive note, making a pair or birdies within the final six holes of the day. Whiston stands tied for 50th at +2 (74).
Freshman Kayla Holden wrapped up the first round of the SEC Championship and rounded out Tennessee's day one scoring lineup in a tie for 50th at +2 (74).
Mikayla Bardwell birdied hole nine to conclude round one and is currently tied for 55th at +3 (75).
The SEC Championship rolls on with round two from Birmingham beginning Thursday morning.
Individual Scores
T4. Vanessa Gilly, -5 (67)
T30. Micheala Williams-Luck, -1 (71)
T50. Nicole Whiston, +2 (74)
T50. Kayla Holden, +2 (74)
T55. Mikayla Bardwell, +3 (75)
Team Scores
T1. LSU, -16 (272)
T1. South Carolina, -16 (272)
3. Mississippi State, -13 (275)
T4. Auburn, -9 (279)
T4. Ole Miss, -9 (279)
T4. Florida, -9 (279)
T4. Arkansas, -9 (279)
8. Alabama, -8 (280)
9. Vanderbilt, -7 (281)
10. Tennessee, -2 (286)
11. Kentucky, -1 (287)
12. Georgia, +2 (290)
13. Texas A&M, +3 (291)
14. Missouri, +5 (293)
Tee Times
Thursday, April 15 – Second Round – 9:20 a.m. ET with Kentucky
Mikayla Bardwell – 9:20 a.m. ET (Hole 10)
Kayla Holden – 9:30 a.m. ET (Hole 10)
Nicole Whiston – 9:40 a.m. ET (Hole 10)
Micheala Williams-Luck – 9:50 a.m. ET (Hole 10)
Vanessa Gilly – 10:00 a.m. ET (Hole 10)
Friday, April 16 – Third Round – TBD
Saturday, April 17 – Match Play – TBD
Sunday, April 18 – Match Play – TBD
Tennessee concluded round one in tenth place at 2-under, six strokes off the cut line for match play.
Gilly shot 5-under (67) to open the SEC Championship proceedings.
"Vanessa played really well and kept taking advantage of her birdie opportunities as they came," head coach Judi Pavon said. "Micheala Williams-Luck also got off to a strong start. The conditions were perfect today and the course was set up pretty short with a few tees moved up and lots of front pins. We expect it to play a little longer each day and will be ready to adjust."
Gilly brought her best performance of the season when the Lady Vols needed it the most. After the round, she reflected on her day and how she is using previous experiences to help her this week.
"I gave myself a lot of birdie chances and hit a lot of greens today," Gilly said. "That helped my score. I was able to keep the ball on the fairway. That helps a lot on a short course. This tournament reminds me of when I represented Venezuela in the South American Junior Championships. It's the same pressure and the same adrenaline rush."
Gilly made six birdies on the day, including back-to-back birdies on two occasions. After 18 holes, she is tied for fourth place at 5-under and will look to build off the best round of her collegiate career tomorrow.
Micheala Williams-Luck has a flawless start, shooting 2-under before the turn. It's the graduate student's 47thcareer round of par or better, leaving her just one round of par or better shy of tying the second-most rounds of that kind in program history.
Additionally, it's her sixth round of par or better this season and she is positioned in a tie for 30th after a 1-under, 71, performance on Wednesday.
Sophomore Nicole Whiston wrapped up round one on a positive note, making a pair or birdies within the final six holes of the day. Whiston stands tied for 50th at +2 (74).
Freshman Kayla Holden wrapped up the first round of the SEC Championship and rounded out Tennessee's day one scoring lineup in a tie for 50th at +2 (74).
Mikayla Bardwell birdied hole nine to conclude round one and is currently tied for 55th at +3 (75).
The SEC Championship rolls on with round two from Birmingham beginning Thursday morning.
Individual Scores
T4. Vanessa Gilly, -5 (67)
T30. Micheala Williams-Luck, -1 (71)
T50. Nicole Whiston, +2 (74)
T50. Kayla Holden, +2 (74)
T55. Mikayla Bardwell, +3 (75)
Team Scores
T1. LSU, -16 (272)
T1. South Carolina, -16 (272)
3. Mississippi State, -13 (275)
T4. Auburn, -9 (279)
T4. Ole Miss, -9 (279)
T4. Florida, -9 (279)
T4. Arkansas, -9 (279)
8. Alabama, -8 (280)
9. Vanderbilt, -7 (281)
10. Tennessee, -2 (286)
11. Kentucky, -1 (287)
12. Georgia, +2 (290)
13. Texas A&M, +3 (291)
14. Missouri, +5 (293)
Tee Times
Thursday, April 15 – Second Round – 9:20 a.m. ET with Kentucky
Mikayla Bardwell – 9:20 a.m. ET (Hole 10)
Kayla Holden – 9:30 a.m. ET (Hole 10)
Nicole Whiston – 9:40 a.m. ET (Hole 10)
Micheala Williams-Luck – 9:50 a.m. ET (Hole 10)
Vanessa Gilly – 10:00 a.m. ET (Hole 10)
Friday, April 16 – Third Round – TBD
Saturday, April 17 – Match Play – TBD
Sunday, April 18 – Match Play – TBD
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
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