Women’s Golf Central: Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship

Monday, September 20

Knoxville, TN | Cherokee Country Club

8:30 AM

University of Tennessee

Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship

Women’s Golf Central: Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship

September 19, 2021 | Women's Golf

Mercedes-Benz Program (PDF)Updated Season Stats (PDF)Live Scoring

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – For the first time in two years, the Tennessee women's golf team is set to serve host to the 24^th annual Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Classic.

The event had been held each year from 1997-2019, before the tournament's absence from the schedule in 2020, due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

The 2021 field consists of 17 teams and five individuals, including Tennessee sophomore Kayla Holden.

LADY VOLS' LINEUP
Nicole Whiston
Whiston is set to tee off the second tournament of her third year on Rocky Top atop the Lady Vols' lineup. Whiston finished the 2019 Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship tied for ninth.

At the Cougar Classic last week, the junior from San Diego, California, logged a T36 finish, after shooting 3-over, 219.

Hadley Walts
While competing as an individual in Tennessee's season-opening tournament last week, Walts recorded the second top-25 finish of her career, by carding a 72 (E) in each of the three rounds at the Cougar Classic. Her 216 (E) marked her lowest 54-hole score since posting a 207 at the Westbrook Invitational as a sophomore in the spring of 2020.

Mikayla Bardwell
Bardwell has excelled at the two previous Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championships, finishing in seventh place as a freshman—just the second tournament of her Tennessee career—while recorded a T16 finish as a sophomore in the fall of 2019. Bardwell opened her senior campaign last week, shooting +4, 220 at the Cougar Classic

Vanessa Gilly
Gilly, a sophomore, enters her first Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship, having shot +8, 224 at the Cougar Classic to open the season last week.

Bailey Davis
Davis began her Lady Vol career last week at the Cougar Classic, finishing T66. The 2021 U.S. Girls' Junior Championship runner-up is set to tee off the second tournament of her collegiate career in Tennessee's fifth lineup slot.

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Kayla Holden
Holden will compete at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship as an individual. The Coral Springs, Florida, shot +9, 225 at the Cougar Classic last week.

THE FIELD
No. 8 Texas Tech, No. 15 Miami, No. 29 BYU, No. 32 Tennessee, No. 35 UTSA, No. 37 Maryland, No. 40 EKU, No. 41 College of Charleston, No. 47 Virginia Tech, No. 50 Charlotte, No. 61 MTSU, No. 80 Kent State, No. 81 South Dakota State, Augusta, Chattanooga, ETSU, Mercer

(rankings according to Golfweek)

NOTES
• The 2021-22 campaign marks the 30th season of the Tennessee women's golf program. The Lady Vols have claimed 29 tournament wins as a team and have finished second in the SEC Championship on three occasions (1993, 1999, 2006).

• The 2019 running of the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship saw the Lady Vols finish in fourth place, while Maryland—led by Diana Cantu at the time—finished fifth. The Lady Vols last won the event in 2010.

COURSE INFORMATION
Cherokee Country Club– Par 71 – 5,844/5,930 yards

Founded in 1907 and located in West Knoxville, Cherokee is Knoxville's oldest and most prestigious golf course and country club. The course was originally designed by Donald Ross, who in his time, was considered to be one of America's outstanding golf course architects. The spacious clubhouse stands above the scenic Tennessee River, with a breathtaking view of the Great Smoky Mountains.

From 2004-07 and 2013-2021, Cherokee Country Club has hosted the Mercedes-Benz Women's Collegiate Championship. Cherokee has also hosted the U.S. Open Qualifier and numerous other state amateur events.

LIVE SCORING
Live scoring will be provided by Golfstat and can be found here.

TEE TIMES
Monday, Sept. 20 – First Round – 8:30 am ET shotgun start with Virginia Tech and Texas Tech
Hadley Walts – 8:30 a.m. ET (Hole 1A)
Nicole Whiston– 8:30 a.m. ET (Hole 1B)
Vanessa Gilly – 8:30 a.m. ET (Hole 2A)
Mikayla Bardwell – 8:30 a.m. ET (Hole 2B)
Bailey Davis – 8:30 a.m. ET (Hole 3)
*Kayla Holden – 8:30 a.m. ET (Hole 16A)

Monday, Sept. 20 – Second Round – 1 pm ET shotgun start with Virginia Tech and Texas Tech

Tuesday, Sept. 21 – Third Round – 9 am ET shotgun start

UP NEXT
The Lady Vols return to action for their third tournament of the season, at The Blessings Collegiate in Fayetteville, Arkansas, running from Oct. 4-6.