Jonesboro, AR – A back-nine fade dropped Austin Peay State University (APSU) women’s golf down Tuesday’s leaderboard at the Lady Red Wolves Classic, with the Governors concluding the fall schedule with a third-place finish at Sage Meadows Country Club—Austin Peay State University’s fourth-straight top-three finish of the fall.
The APSU Govs entered the final day of competition holding a lead but 13 bogeys on the back-nine proved to be Austin Peay State University’s undoing; the Govs finished with a three-round 864 (288-284-292), the third-best 54-hole performance in program history and two shots better than their showing at the Golfweek event at Pawleys Island to open the fall schedule. Host Arkansas State (861) shot five-under as a team on the final day to take the title, followed by Murray State (862); Central Arkansas (868) and Little Rock (869) rounded out the top-five.
“Today was not the finish we hoped for, but top three in this event is still a great accomplishment,” said head coach Jessica Combs. “It capped off a really terrific fall for this team, and I’m proud of the progress we have made and will continue to make. I’m really proud of everyone’s work, but I especially want to shoutout Abby Jimenez for her top-10 finish!”
Jimenez’s second top-10 finish of the fall was earned via a 54-hole 214 (73-68-73) to earn a share of 10th and post the eighth-best 54-hole score in program history. She led the Govs with a dozen birdies over the course of the week, including the 371-yard par-4 at No. 9, which played as the second-hardest hole throughout the tournament.
Senior Jillian Breedlove’s final-day 73 gave her a one-under 215 (71-71-73) for the week, equaling the second-best 54-hole showing of her career. She closed the fall campaign of her senior season with four-straight top-20 finishes.
Sophomore Ella Arnzen (73-72-73—218; t-23rd), senior Abby Hirtzel (71-73-75—219; t-27th) and sophomore Jordin Cowing (73-78-73—224; t-48th) concluded the lineup for this week. Austin Peay once again led all programs in this tournament in pars with 185, led by Cowing’s 42 (second-most by a player in the tournament) and Arnzen’s 40 (t-4th among the field). Hirtzel closed strong with a birdie on No. 1, her final hole; she was one of three Govs with birdies on the 410-yard par-5 on Tuesday.
Sophomore Makenna Cox, playing as the individual, carded an even-par 72 in her final round, finishing with a 226 (81-73-72).
This event closes out the fall portion of Austin Peay State University’s schedule; the APSU Govs are scheduled to return to action March 1st at the Huntsville.org Intercollegiate in Owens Cross Roads, Alabama at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail stop at Hampton Cove.