Tournament #7: 3M Augusta Invitational
Date: March 17-19, 2017
Location: Forest Hills Golf Club: Augusta, Georgia
Host: Augusta University
No. of Teams: 14
Format: 54-holes of stroke play with 18 holes contested on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Links:  Live Scoring | Twitter | Women's Golf Stats

Tournament Preview
The Kennesaw State women's golf team will play the first of five events in five weeks at the 3M Augusta Invitational at Forest Hills Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

Round one begins on Friday, March 17 with tee times going off one and ten from 9:30 – 11:50 a.m. Round two on Saturday is the same format as the first round and round three on Sunday will be a shotgun start at 9:00 a.m.

The Owls grabbed a 12^th place finish at last year's 3M Invitational.

Under the leadership of tenth-year head coach Rhyll Brinsmead, the Owls have their eyes set on a second ASUN Conference Championship and NCAA Regional appearance in the last three seasons, while also looking to make history as the first KSU women's golf team to advance to the NCAA Championship.
 
The Field
The 14-team field includes  No. 45 Augusta, Coastal Carolina, Columbia, Daytona State, Eastern Michigan, East Tennessee State, James Madison, Kennesaw, Memphis, Ole Miss, No. 23  Purdue, No.33 Tennessee, Troy, and Virginia Tech.


Lineup
1. Medy Thavong
2. Charlotte Charrayre
3. Henriette Nielsen
4. Maddi Caldwell
5. Dulcie Sverdloff


Quotable
"This is one of my favorite events on our schedule each year. The course sets up very well for us and historically we've had some quality finishes in Augusta. This event will be the first of five consecutive tournaments leading up to the A-Sun conference championship. So it is important we start to build some momentum early on, I feel very confident in my roster and know we can compete 1-5. The team is eager to get back on the course, we've had three weeks of practice and they are ready to go!"

- Head Coach Rhyll Brinsmead

Thavong Leads Owls to Fourth Place Finish at Amelia Island Collegiate
Medy Thavong of the Kennesaw State women's golf team posted a final round six-under par 66 to lead the Owls to a fourth place finish at the Amelia Island Collegiate that wrapped up on Tuesday (Feb.21) at the par-72, 6,029-yard Amelia National Golf Course in Fernandina Beach, Fla. The Owls carded a 3-over par 291 in the final round to close out the tournament with a two-day total of 30- over par 894.

Next Up
The Owls will host the Henssler Intercollegiate on Monday and Tuesday March 27-28 at Pinetree Country Club in Kennesaw, Ga. 

KSU Team Notes
 
Thavong Earns ASUN Player of the Week Honors
Kennesaw State women's golf sophomore Medy Thavong earned her second career ASUN Conference Women's Golfer of the Week after finishing tied for fifth at the JU Amelia Island Collegiate earlier this week; the league announced on Thursday (Feb.23).
Thavong led the Owls to a fourth-place finish in the Jacksonville University-hosted event, as she posted her career-low round, 66 in Tuesday's final round. The Prachinburi, Thailand native opened the two-day tournament with a two-over par 74 before following it up with rounds of four-over par 76 and six-under-par 66 to finish with a total of even par 216. Her 66 joined her with former Owls Ines Lescudier and current assistant coach Ket Preamchuen for the lowest round on a par-72 course in program history.
 
Owls Solid during the Fall Season 
The Owls posted five Top 15 and four straight Top 10 finishes as a team to close out the fall season.  Sophomore Medy Thavong led the way for the Owls in the fall with a 73.67 scoring average, three top 10 finishes and a win at the Johnie Imes Invitational. Her 36-hole score of 139 is the lowest in program history, while her total score of 211 is the second lowest 54-hole score on a par 72 course in program history. Her win was the seventh individual tournament victory by a KSU player since 2005-06.Senior Dulcie Sverdloff had another strong fall posting a 74.27 scoring average and two top 20 finishes. Her second round five-under par 67 at the Johnie Imes Invitational is the Owls lowest individual round this season. The senior enters her final spring of collegiate golf needing to complete just 11 rounds to become the all-time leader in career rounds played at KSU. Henriette Nielsen played in four fall tournaments and posted a 75.83 scoring average has returned to form after an injury hampered her for most of her sophomore season. Senior Laura Estefenn collected her second career ASUN Conference Women's Golfer of the Week accolade after leading the Owls at the Lady Paladin Invitational Sept.23-25. Sophomore Charlotte Charrayre closed the fall with a tied for 31^st place finish at the Palmetto Intercollegiate. The Owls are hopeful that reigning ASUN Player of the Year Clara Aveling can return to action after being injured during the fall.
   
Talented Transfer Madison Caldwell Joins Team 
When the Owls return to action, in the spring, there will be a new face on the roster. Madison Caldwell, a sophomore, has a signed a grant-in-aid agreement and will join the team in the spring of 2017. Caldwell comes to KSU after playing her freshman season at Western Carolina. She played in all 10 of the team's tournaments a year ago, finishing third on the squad with a seasonal stroke average of 77.32. The Dawsonville, Georgia native carded 22 of 28 rounds in the 70s with a career-low of 69 in the final round of the Ole Miss Rebel Intercollegiate. The Bogota, Columbia native opened the three-day tournament with a four-over par 76 before following it up with rounds one-over par 73 and even-par 72 to finish tied for 34^th. Charlotte Charrayre had her best finish of the fall of the fall at the Palmetto Intercollegiate where she finished tied for 31^st. Reining ASUN Player and Freshman of the Year Clara Aveling was injured during the first tournament of the fall and the Owls are hopeful she can return to her strong play in the spring.
 
Thavong Named ASUN Player of the Week
Kennesaw State women's golf sophomore Medy Thavong earned her first career ASUN Conference Women's Golfer of the Week after collecting her first collegiate win at the Johnie Imes Invitational earlier this week, the league announced on Thursday (Oct.6).
 The Prachinburi, Thailand native opened the two-day tournament with a 2-under par 70 before following it up with rounds of 3-under par 69 and even-par 72 to finish with a total of 5-under par 211. Her 36-hole score of 139 is the lowest in program history, while her total score of 211 is the second lowest 54-hole score on a par 72 course in program history. Her win was the seventh individual tournament victory by a KSU player since 2005-06.
 
Estefenn Named ASUN Player of the Week
Senior Laura Estefenn collected her second career ASUN Conference Women's Golfer of the Week accolade after leading the Owls at the Lady Paladin Invitational Sept.23-25, the league announced on Thursday (Sept.29). The Bogota, Columbia native opened the three-day tournament with a four-over par 76 before following it up with rounds one-over par 73 and even-par 72 to finish tied for 34th. Her round of 72 is tied for the KSU individual season-low round this season. For the tournament, Estefenn, rolled in eight birdies and 34 pars.
 
A Season of Growth
The 2015-16 Kennesaw State women's golf campaign featured a very young competitive squad that featured four underclassmen and two upperclassmen. The team collected a win at the Terrier Intercollegiate. The Owls registered seven top-10 finishes and five top-5 finishes while rookie Clara Aveling took home Freshman and Player of the Year, and ASUN Medalist honors, respectively. Junior Dulcie Sverdloff and Aveling earned first-team honors, while Medy Thavong was named to the second-team and earned All-Freshman Team accolades along with Aveling andCharlotte Charrayre.
 
Sverdloff and Thavong Earn Academic Honors
 Dulcie Sverdloff and Medy Thavong were named to the 2015-16 Women's Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar Team. Sverdloff was named to the WGCA All-American Scholar team for the third year in a row while majoring in sports management with a 3.71 GPA. Thavong earned a 4.0 GPA while majoring in International Business.
 
Owls in the Rankings
Kennesaw State was ranked No.96 by Golfweek  and No. 91 by Golfstat heading into play this weekend. 
 
Head Coach Rhyll Brinsmead
Head coach Rhyll Brinsmead is in her 10th season at the helm of the Kennesaw State women's golf program. In her time as an Owl, she has led KSU to a pair of Atlantic Sun Conference titles and NCAA Regional Championship appearances, coming in 2011-2012 and 2014-15. A talented golfer in her own right, Brinsmead played collegiately at Texas State and graduated in 2004.
 
 To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State women's golf news follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsWmnsGolf or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.
 

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