PALM HARBOR, Fla. – The University of Pikeville women's golf team competed in an absolutely loaded field in the Invite at Innisbrook this week and recorded a top five finish.
 
Competing in a 14-team field that included eight of the top 17 teams in the country and another getting votes, No. 17 UPike tied for fifth with No. 15 Coastal Georgia with three-round scores of 906, 54 shots over par.
 
The Innisbrook Golf Resort played to 5,913 yards and a par 71 and is the host course for the PGA's Valspar Championship.

"It was a gutsy performance today from the girls," said Coach Nelson Scott. "They battled until the last hole to come back and tie Coastal Georgia. Keira (Howroyd) and big sister Tayla birdied their last hole to give us the tie. We started the day eight shots back and cut the lead to two after nine holes."
 
No. 6 Dalton State (Ga.), which served as the host for the tournament, picked up the win with a three-round total of 20-over par, while No. 7 SCAD Atlanta finishing nine strokes back and No. 3 SCAD Savannah, 13 strokes behind, rounded out the top three.
 
Indiana Wesleyan, the nation's No. 13 team, was fourth at 49-over par.
 
No. 14 Southeastern (Fla.) finished seventh at 61-over, while No. 16 Truett McConnell (Ga.) was 79 over and finished eighth.
 
Ottawa University of Arizona, commonly referred to as OUAZ, is getting votes in the most recent poll and finished 10^th, 98 over par.
 
Individually, the Bears were led by senior Renee Crooks, who moved up five spots thanks to Tuesday's round of 72, was ninth in the field of 78 with a three-round score of 10 over par.
 
Junior Tayla Howroyd followed with a 15^th place finish at 13-over par. Senior Carly Crooks joined them in the Top 20, finishing 17^th thanks to a score of 14-over par.
 
Graduate student Lauren Holmes finished 31^st with a three-round finish of 20-over par. Freshman Keira Howroyd came in 43^rd after finishing 24 strokes over par.
 
Playing as independents, Laney Sorrell and Tiffanie Trann each recorded scores of 29 over, tied for 52^nd.
 
UPike's next tournament will be the Gibson Bay Invitational, a match play event, Oct. 13-14 in Richmond.