Alabama Women’s Golf Enters Break with Focus on Darius Rucker Intercollegiate
2/16/2017 3:02:00 PM | Women's Golf
The Crimson Tide captured team and individual titles at the 2016 tournament
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama women's golf team will have the next two weekends off before traveling to Hilton Head Island, S.C., March 3-5 for the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate. The tournament will be held at the Long Cove Club. Alabama captured the 2016 team and individual titles at the Rucker as the Tide shot a 16-over par 868 to win the event and sophomore Cheyenne Knight carded an even-par 213 (67-74-72) to win individual medalist honors. The win was the first of Knight's collegiate career. Alabama also won team titles in the event in 2011 and 2012.
Last Outing
The Crimson Tide shot a three-over par 287 in the final round to finish fifth at the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge at the par-71, 6,017-yard Palos Verdes Golf Club in Palos Verdes Estates, Calif., Feb. 12-14.
Sophomore Lauren Stephenson was the low scorer for the Tide with a three-under par performance (72-67-73/212) that was good for a tie at fifth in the individual standings. Cheyenne Knight tied for 17th at five-over par (75-73-70/218), freshman Kristen Gillman tied for 24th at six-over par (76-73-70/219), junior Lakareber Abe tied for 45th at 10-over par (78-71-74/223) and senior Cammie Gray tied for 72nd at 17-over par (73-79-78/230).
Crimson Tide Boasts Four of Nation's Top 40 Golfers
Cheyenne Knight is ranked sixth in the latest Golfstat individual statistical rankings. Knight (70.13) is joined in the top 40 by three of her teammates: Lauren Stephenson (70.20) is ninth, Kristen Gillman (71.53) is 32nd and Lakareber Abe (70.56) is 36th.
Knight (sixth), Stephenson (seventh), Gillman (33rd) and Abe (51st) are also among the leaders in the Golfweek women's rankings released Feb. 6.
Alabama in the National Rankings
The Crimson Tide's team score of 72.35 ranks No. 4 in the latest Golfstat statistical rankings released Feb. 15. USC (71.96) is No. 1. Florida State (72.98) and Arkansas (72.23) are the top three nationally. The Tide is No. 5 in the latest Golfweek ratings with a rating of 70.82. Stanford (70.51) is No. 1. Florida State (70.68), USC (70.77) and Arizona State (70.79) round out the top five.
Alabama Head Coach Mic Potter
The 2016 SEC Coach of the Year, Alabama head coach Mic Potter has built the Alabama women's golf program into a perennial SEC and NCAA championship contender. Under Potter's leadership, the Tide women have reached the NCAA Championships in all 11 of his seasons at the Capstone and captured an NCAA title (2012), two NCAA Regional titles (2011, 2013) and three Southeastern Conference championships (2010, 2012, 2016). The Tide have finished in the top 15 in the last eight NCAA Championships, including a run of five consecutive top 10 finishes from 2010-2014. In 2015, Potter helped guide Emma Talley to the individual NCAA championship to cap off the 2014-15 season. Potter's work at Alabama has earned him six SEC Coach of the Year awards.
Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabamaWGolf, on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
