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The Sand Sharks opened their second season in style, wrapping up the first victory in the program's history Tuesday with a seven-shot win over host UNC Pembroke in the Battle at the Bayonet in Raeford, N.C.
USCB began the final round with an 11-shot lead and made it stand up, as Adriana Saavedra, Kaitlin O'Sullivan and Brittany Cheek all finished in the top five individually in the four-team event.
"It's a good way to start off the year," USCB assistant coach Chris Cuneo said. "I think they kind of figured out how to close a tournament. It ended up being a little closer than it needed to be, but we got the job done."
The Sand Sharks came close to winning in their inaugural season, falling by one shot to Berry College in the Sand Shark Invitational at Tradition National, but there was no such heartbreak Tuesday. And after the best two-day effort for the young program, USCB hopes to keep the momentum going next week at the Lady Falcon Invitational in New London, N.C.
"I'm excited about next week," Cuneo said. "Any score under 320 for 18 holes is very competitive, so 630 for 36 holes, that will put us near the top of the leaerboard at any tournament we play in."
Battle at the Bayonet
The Bayonet at Puppy Creek, Raeford, N.C.
TEAM STANDINGS
USC Beaufort 311-319--630; UNC Pembroke 322-315--637; Lenoir-Rhyne 343-318--661; Columbus State 331-330--661.
USCB INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
3. Adriana Saavedra 75-77--152; 4. Kaitlin O'Sullivan 77-78--155; T5. Brittany Cheek 78-82--160; 10. Sally Woodhead 81-82--163; 13. Sophie Henke 83-85--168.
SAND SHARKS' CHARGE COMES UP SHORT
After "leaving some meat on the bone" in Monday's first round, USCB's men picked it clean in Tuesday's final round of the Kiawah Island Invitational, but it wasn't quite enough to come out on top.
The Sand Sharks posted a school-record team score of 281 at Cougar Point Golf Club, good enough to move up from a tie for sixth to start the day and finish second to Georgia College and State University, the No. 1 ranked team in NCAA Division II.
"We came in and the head pro said that's the lowest score he's ever seen in this tournament," USCB coach Shane LeBaron said.
But the Bobcats went one better, posting a 280 to beat the Sand Sharks byseven shots. Four USCB players posted scores under par Tuesday, led by Reed Howard's 3-under-par 69, which matched the lowest round of the day and moved Howard into a tie for ninth. George Thacker shot 70 to tie for third, and Jon Pannone carded a 71 to tie for seventh.
"The great thing about today is we played well and did everything right out there," LeBaron said. "The kids were smart and played good, solid golf. We didn't win, but it was just because we got beat. We played well, we just got outplayed."
USCB will be back in action Sept. 19-20 at the Webber International Fall Invitational in Lake Wales, Fla.
Kiawah Island Invitational
Cougar Point Golf Club, Kiawah Island, S.C.
TEAM STANDINGS
Georgia College and State University 291-280--571; USC Beaufort 297-281--578; Belmont Abbey 296-288--584; North Alabama 293-294--597; Indianapolis 292-297--589; USC Aiken 297-293--590; Coker College 298-293--591; Armstrong Atlantic 296-302--598; Mount Olive 308-293--601; Washburn 307-295--602; St. Andrew's 300-303--603; Pfeiffer 306-299--605; Flagler 306-306--612; Concord 314-305--619; North Georgia 327-310--637.
USCB INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
T3. George Thacker 72-70--142; T7. Jon Pannone 73-71--144; T9. Reed Howard 76-69--145; T21. Chris Lane II 76-71--147; T72. Jack Bingham 85-82--167.
