Butler Places Fifth In Season-Opener

GLENCOE, ALA. -- Junior Michele Nash tied for tenth in the final individual standings and Butler wound up fifth in the team race at the season-opening Chris Banister Golf Classic, which wrapped up at Silver Lakes Golf Course on Tuesday (Sept. 7).

Nash rebounded from an opening round, 10-over-par 82 to shoot a one-over-par 73 in the second round and a five-over-par 77 in the final round.  Her 54-hole total of 232 placed her in a tie with Megan VanEtten of Florida Golf Coast and Stine Pedersen of Lamar.

Sophomore Julia Porter also captured a “Top 20” individual finish with a three-round total of 238 (85-77-76), good for a tie for 19th place.  Rounding out Butler’s top five individuals were senior Molly Fields, who tied for 21st place with a final score of 239 (80-81-78), junior Clare Cornelius, who placed 23rd with a final total of 240 (83-78-79), and sophomore Ali Arends, who tied for 29th with a score of 244 (82-82-80).

Host Jacksonville State claimed the team title with a three-day score of 899, while Lamar finished runner-up with 927.  Florida Gulf Coast was third with a final score of 933, followed by Mercer (937), Butler (946), Samford (950) and Evansville (982).

Lucia Fernandez of Jacksonville State claimed medalist honors with a 54-hole total of one-over-par 217.  She carded rounds of 73, 72 and 72.

Butler Scores
T-10.  Michele Nash - 82-73-77 232
T-19.  Julia Porter - 85-77-76 238
T-21.  Molly Fields - 80-81-78 239
   23.  Clare Cornelius - 83-78-79 240
T-29.  Ali Arends - 82-82-80 244