Trojans Claim Fifth Place at National Championship
NAIA Championship Central | Results | Live Scoring
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – An incredible season for the Taylor women's golf team came to a close on Friday as the Trojans finished in fifth place at the NAIA National Championship.
Taylor's fifth place finish comes after the final round of the 72-hole championship was canceled on Friday due to an afternoon storm that dumped nearly an inch of rain on the course making play impossible.
The Trojans finish the championship with a three-round total of 77-over par 941 (311-315-315). Second-ranked Dalton State edged TU by one shot for third place at 940 (329-310-301) while the hosts from Keiser took third place at 936 (315-321-300). Top-ranked SCAD-Savannah claimed the team crown with a three-day total of 909 (300-306-303) while William Woods finished runner-up at 928 (309-301-318).
"What an incredible season!" Taylor coach Cameron Andry said following the tournament. "This team has been so much fun to watch this year."
"Each of these ladies loves to compete and they play their hearts out every time they tee it up," Andry continued. "A fifth place finish at the National Championship is a direct result of the hard work, dedication, and determination exhibited by each player in our program all season long and I couldn't be more proud of each of them."
Freshman Taylor French was the low individual for TU as the O'Fallon, Missouri native became the first player in TU women's golf history to earn All-Tournament Team honors at the National Championship. French finished in a tie for 13th place with a three-round total of 16-over par 232 (76-77-79).
Sophomore Maddie Thomas finished just one shot behind French in a tie for 17th place at 17-over par 233 (78-75-80). Sophomore Annie Stimmel added a 36th place finish for the Trojans at 22-over par 238 (78-83-77) while freshman Nicole Jung added a tie for 52nd place at 27-over par 243 (79-80-84) and junior Elizabeth Jackson finished tied for 63rd at 31-over par 247 (82-86-79).
The Trojans entered Friday's final round in fifth place in the team standings and quickly vaulted up the leaderboard as TU opened with a blistering start at the 5,847-yard, par-72 layout of the PGA National Champion Course, home of the PGA Tour's Honda Classic.
Taylor, which entered the championship ranked 14th in the most recent NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll, completed between 12 and 15 holes on Friday before play was canceled and the results of the round were voided. The Trojans had moved into fourth place and were just one shot out of third on the team leaderboard when the round was called.
"We were certainly disappointed that we weren't able to finish the full 72 holes but that's the nature of an outdoor sport like golf," Andry said. "We had a really good round going and it looked like were had a chance to move up the team standings if we could have continued playing but we're still really excited and proud of our showing this week."
The 2018 NAIA National Championship marked just the second national championship appearance for the TU women's golf program, which started in the fall of 2012. This season marked the first time the Trojans made the cut at the National Championship and the fifth place finish is the highest national championship finish in program history.
The Trojans finish the season with five tournament titles, including a second straight Crossroads League championship, and a head-to-head record of 104-11-2.
Taylor will say goodbye to just one senior off this year's squad, Grace Elenbaas, while the Trojans return each of their top five as well as several other players who will make a push for the line-up next season.