After starting off the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Classic in ninth place after the first day, the Lady Vols golf team battled back to 6th the second day. On the third and final day of the tournament, head coach Judi Pavon’s squad fired a 288 to rocket up to a second place finish in the tournament.
A huge part of the Lady Vols’ tournament success last week was sophomore Hannah Pietila, who finished tied for second place.
“My putting, for sure (was the best part of my game),” Pietila said. “I had 12 putts on the front nine on the third day.”
Lucia Polo and Mason Chen both finished tied for 10th, while Anna Newell finished tied for 22nd and A.J. Newell finished tied for 26th to wrap up a stellar performance for the team. Pavon feels that this tournament was monumental for the Lady Vols.
“It might have been better starting slow and finishing strong than had we been in second place all along,” Pavon said. “I think it proved to them that they can play the kind of golf that can make up some ground and beat some teams.”
With a large amount of extra confidence in their pockets, the Lady Vols now focus on a true test of skill: The Landfall Tradition in Wilmington, North Carolina. The 4,859 yard, par 72 Dye Course will play host to this year’s tournament.
“We played there at the national championship in 2010, and it was a long, tough golf course,” Pavon said. “I think it will suit our team well because there’s a few doglegs and tough greens, and we’ve been playing on tough greens all fall. As long as our ball-striking is solid, we should do pretty good there.”
The field at this tournament is strong. The No. 3 Duke Blue Devils, who are the defending national champions, will be there along with No. 8 South Carolina and No. 9 Arizona. Along with a handful of athletic teams from the ACC and Big Ten conferences, UT rivals Florida and defending tournament champion Alabama will be at the Landfall Tradition.
“It’s a really, really good test for us,” Pavon said. “We’re gonna have to play our best to be near the top, and it’s a really good test for us to finish out the fall.”
With this being the last tournament until February, the Lady Vols will be looking to close out their fall season with a strong finish in the Landfall Tradition. Pavon is impressed with what her team has accomplished this year so far.
“To me, they seem a lot more confident and determined,” Pavon said. “They’re really a lot more competitive than last year.”
Although tee times have yet to be posted, Pavon will be taking Anna Newell, A.J. Newell, Pietila, Polo and Chen. According to Pavon, freshman Blakesly Warren did not play in the Mercedes-Benz Classic because of an illness. The NCAA has not cleared Warren to play in the Landfall Tradition.
The Landfall Tradition will begin this Friday and run through Sunday. Tee times and round results can be viewed on golfstatresults.com.
