Laconia, Ind. – UPIKE women's golf traveled to Indiana over the weekend to compete in the Spalding University hosted Battle at Chariot Run. The Bears dominated the competition, claiming first of three teams and sweeping all five spots atop the leaderboard.
The Bears totaled 656 through 18 holes, finishing an impressive 70 strokes ahead of runner-up Spalding. Canadian
Renee Crooks took the individual title, carding a two-day total of 153 (+9) in her Bears debut.
Carly Crooks finished runner-up with a score of 159 (+15).
Five of the Bears six players finished in the top five including
Gabrielle Blankenship who notched her highest career finish, tying for third.
Sophie Beverly finished fifth to claim the all-tournament distinction.
The Crooks sisters made a powerful statement in their first ever competition. Hailing from Toronto, Ontario, the duo combined for seven birdies throughout the weekend. Through the first 18, both Renee and Carly carded a 77 (+5) to sit atop the leaderboard by five strokes. Renee managed a birdie on hole 13, shooting for par on 12 of 18 holes while sister Carly birdied on four, 13, and 17. Day two saw Renee pull ahead, tallying three birdies to shoot a 76 (+4).
Blankenship finished with an 18-hole score of 173 (+29) to tie Asbury's Maddie Heineman for third overall. Blankenship shot her best round on Saturday, carding an 82 (+10) featuring a birdie on the par-4 hole seven. The Inez, Ky. native recorded a 91 (+19) on Sunday, hindered by four double bogeys.
Rounding out the top five was sophomore Beverly who's scores of 83 (+11) and 91 (+19) earned her fifth place. Beverly managed her lone birdie on the par-3 hole 15.
Just outside the top five was freshman
Lauren Holmes of Anderson County. Holmes carded scores of 87 (+15) and 88 (+16) to finish sixth in her collegiate debut.
Individual
Taylor Messer finished in the top 10 as well, nabbing ninth with scores of 92 (+20) and 95 (+23).
The Bears return to the links on Monday, September 12
th as they head to Lexington, Ky. for the Asbury Fall Invitational.
