By JAMES BROWN
104TheScore.com
A pair of Glasgow natives helped their women’s college golf teams to first and second in the 2024 Cardinal Cup on Sunday.
At the University of Louisville Golf Club, former Lady Scottie Abbie Lee shot 223 through three rounds to finish tied for 16th, while her former high school teammate, Nina McMurtrey, shot 232 and finished tied for 46th. Lee’s Middle Tennessee team captured the team title with an 880, and McMurtrey’s Western Kentucky team was runner-up with an 883. Host Louisville, which is coached by Glasgow native Whitney Young, tied for fourth with an 885.
Lady Topper senior Catie Craig won the individual title with a 3-under 213. Craig is now one win shy of Mary Joiner’s program record of six career wins. Craig overcame a two-shot deficit to begin the day, thanks to her 2-under 70. She was 2-over through three holes on Sunday, after a double-bogey on No. 3. Birdies on No. 4 and No. 9 got her back to even at the turn, where she remained until a birdie on No. 15 – her fifth of the day – and another at No. 17.
“Going into today, I knew that I was playing in the same group as the leader, so I made sure I stayed present on each shot and accepted whatever outcome occurred! For me to end up winning my fifth collegiate title is truly a blessing and I am grateful for having such a wonderful team and coach to help and support me,” Craig said.
WKU began the Day 3 tied with Rutgers atop the leaderboard. Despite struggling early in the round and slipping to fifth, WKU finished the day strong and was runner-up in a field of 15 teams.
The Lady Tops began the day tied with Rutgers atop the leaderboard. to post a runner-up finish at the University of Louisville Golf Club – besting the hosts Louisville (ACC), Rutgers (Big Ten) and Cincinnati (Big 12) among others in the 15-team field.
McMurtrey improved her score through each round. She shot 81, 77 and 74, to finish at 12-over total.
Lee made her presence known in her first competition back from an injury last winter, placing in the top-20 after three hard-fought rounds. She shot a 75 (+3) in the third round.
After finishing in the top-three after the end of the first two rounds, the Blue Raiders charged forward to take the lead through the first three holes Sunday. They carded their best round of the tournament, a 289 (+1). The title was the first of the Lauren Wamsley era and the first since 2022.
“What a special day it is today,” said head coach Lauren Wamsley. “I am so proud of this team to fight as hard as they did all week through the weather. The rain, the wind and a few injuries here and there never slowed them down. The team went out fighting and earned some hardware to bring back home, so we’re all really excited.”
TEAM LEADERBOARD
1. Middle Tennessee | 294-297-289—880 (+16)
2. WESTERN KENTUCKY | 297-291-295—883 (+19)
3. East Carolina | 302-294-288—884 (+20)
T4. Louisville | 297-299-289—885 (+21)
T4. Rutgers | 291-297-297—885 (+21)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD
1. CATIE CRAIG, WKU | 70-73-70—213 (-3)
T2. Carmen Griffiths, Louisville | 71-74-70—215 (-1_
T2. Grace Lu, Rutgers | 69-72-74—215 (-1)
4. Tatum Walsh, James Madison | 72-73-71—216 €
T13. AVERI CLINE, WKU | 75-72-75—222 (+6)
T21. JULIA ZIGROSSI, WKU | 75-73-76—224 (+8)
T21. KAYLEE DWYER*, WKU | 77-75-72—224 (+8)
T32. SYDNEY HACKETT, WKU | 77-73-78—228 (+12)
T46. NINA McMURTREY, WKU | 81-77-74—232 (+16)
T53. REAGAN FOLK*, WKU | 81-77-76—234 (+18)
*playing as individual
NEXT UP
WKU is back in action next weekend for the Lady Paladin Invitational, hosted by Furman, in Greenville, S.C. The three-day, 54-hole event begins on Friday (Sept. 20) and concludes Sunday (Sept. 22).
Information from WKU Athletics and MTSU Athletics was used to compile this report.
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