MONROE, N.C.--The No. 3 Anderson Women's Golf team traveled to No. 1 Wingate's home tournament this week, the Jerry Surratt Memorial Intercollegiate, and finished 4th of 18 teams. The tournament field was competitively stacked, with the 12 best-scoring teams all ranked within the Top-30 nationally. The Black and Gold finished 4th overall behind No. 1 Wingate, No. 2 Dallas Baptist and No. 4 Findlay. 

"I think this week was one of our absolute best weeks ball striking all year long," said Head Coach Denton Moore. "I know it was our absolute worst week putting all year long. That equaled out to a really solid finish in a loaded field. This was a national championship caliber field. With 7 top 10 teams, and 12 top 25 teams there, and especially having the top 5 teams in America there, you have to be at your absolute best. We were at an elite level ball striking, and we were at a very poor level putting. The girls finished every round extremely strong. We just can't put ourselves behind the eight ball early and expect to rebound each time at the end. I am extremely proud of how they closed each round. We have a lot of grit, and that's an extremely valuable thing to have when the postseason comes around. However, we have to come out and do our thing from start to finish if we want to compete for a national championship."

Finishing 1st for the Trojans and 8th overall was freshman Olivia Roberts (Chesnee, S.C.) at +2, who secured her fourth Top-10 individual finish of her collegiate career. Currently ranked No. 7 in the nation individually, Roberts has finished all six tournaments played this year 16th in the field or better. 

"Olivia Roberts just continues to be one of the best freshmen I have ever watched. She knows her game, she doesn't need help, and she executes at a high level. If there is a better freshman in America right now, I haven't seen her."

Behind Roberts, Olivia Pellerin (Greenville, S.C.) and Aly Francis (Stockbridge, Ga.) rounded out the Top-15, finishing +3 and +4 at 13th and 15th respectively. The mark earns Pellerin her sixth and Francis her fourth Top-25 individual finishes this season. 

"Olivia Pellerin is close to putting the final stamps on an All American season in her second year. Extremely proud of how much she has grown from year one to year two. Aly Francis was awesome in the final two rounds this week, especially in the final round. Kennedy Gooding was rock solid this week, and closed each round with incredible poise. Paige Paolucci gave us everything she had this week, and grinder like I have never seen this week. Again, we just have to clean things up putting. We will continue to work hard and clean that up over the next month to get ready for the postseason."

Anderson continues their season next week (March 16-17) at the Patriot Invitational in Carmel, Calif. hosted by Dallas Baptist. 

"Kennedy McGaha is such a valuable coach. There are very few programs in the country that have an assistant that brings the value to a program that she does ours much less a GA. She is wise beyond her years as a coach, and it's why she is the GOAT of AU golf. We are incredibly lucky to have her here with us this year. We will take one day off, an then head to California for a great event, and a memorable trip for DBU's event on the west coast. I am excited to get out there and go to work with the girls and K Mac! Go Trojans!"

4. Anderson 293-296-294—883(+19) 

8. Roberts 71-73-74—218(+2) 

13. Pellerin 70-76-73—219(+3) 

15. Francis 76-73-71—220(+4) 

32. Kennedy Gooding 76-74-76—226(+10) 

50. Claudia Hastings (IND) 79-80-72—231(+15) 

62. Paige Paolucci 78-79-77—234(+18) 

76. Peyton O'Brien (IND) 81-82-80—243(+27)