TOCCOA, Ga. – Wrapping up the fall season of their 2025-26 campaign, the nationally fourth ranked Anderson University women's golf team put on a show taking home the team title at the Ralph Hayes Toyota D2 Elite Invitational at the Currahee Club on October 26-28.
The Trojans were able to top the field by 10-strokes, firing the best round of the week in the first round with a 287 (-1) while rounding out the tournament with the second-best third round score of 298 (+8). The field was stacked with four of the top 10 teams in the country and 14 of the 18 teams in the top 40 of the nation.
"I am extremely proud of the girls this week. It was a tough week, on a tough track, and the weather just made it harder. It was windy and raining from start to finish it felt like," said director of golf Denton Moore. "I hate we only got 36 holes in instead of 54, but we can't control the weather. As always Currahee was an exceptional venue, and this was an elite field. The girls grinded from start to finish. This week again was a complete team effort to get the win. The starting 5 showed some serious guts in tough conditions. I am proud of how they closed out the fall with a second at Achasta and winning at Lake Jovita and Currahee. There are just no weeks off with the schedule we play, and they were exceptional down the stretch."
Freshman Olivia Roberts (Chesnee, S.C.) continued her fantastic first season, taking home a second-place finish with rounds of 70-74 to finish even par for the tournament. Sophomore Oliva Pellerin (Greenville, S.C.) and senior Claudia Hastings (Liverpool, England) were able to finish in the top 10 of the event individually, with each tying for ninth place at two-over for the event.
"Olivia Roberts is the best freshman in the country and one of the best players period. She was awesome this week on a course that doesn't give anything easy. I am just so proud of the way she has played this semester. You just don't see freshman that play like this very often. A runner up finish in this elite field is a fantastic way for her to end the semester. Olivia Pellerin continues to be one of the best players in the country week in and week out. She has been so steady this season, and the last 3 weeks have been insane with 3 straight top 10 finishes including this week. Claudia Hastings continues to show why we were so excited to get her out of the portal. The last 3 events for her have been fantastic, and to back up a win with a top 10 finish in elite fields has been really fun to watch."
Seniors Kennedy Gooding (Lexington, S.C.) and Aly Francis (Stockbridge, Ga.) rounded out the week in 13th and 35th place for the Trojans, providing solid rounds throughout the tournament. Sophomore Peyton O'Brien (Salem, S.C.) continued to perform well, taking home a 67th place finish individually.
"Kennedy Gooding was really solid this week. She was amazing on the back 9 both days. She really gave us a calming presence down the stretch. Aly Francis was rock solid all week. She kept us in the game all week and was super gritty. It's been a lot of fun seeing this combination of veterans and young guns go to work each week."
"This event is so much fun to host, and Currahee is a great venue. We could not do this event without an exceptional sponsor like Ralph Hayes Toyota. They make everything possible for us to host some of the most elite teams in the country each year. We are so thankful for Robert and Randolph Hayes and all their support for this event. We had teams from all over the nation this week, and they made it possible with their incredible generosity in supporting this event. Robert is an AU alum and was a fantastic player here for the Trojans. We just can't thank Ralph Hayes enough for everything they do for this event."
"These girls have earned some much-deserved time off this week and next. We will get back to work in November in the gym and on the course and start to prepare for the spring season. Again, I am just so proud of this crew, and so thankful we get to coach them week in and week out. We are so blessed with this team. See you in the spring! Go Trojans!"
