Wildcats News
Wed, Oct 29, 2008 - [Women's Golf]

On September 23, 2008, the Bethel College Women's Golf team defeated the Rhodes College Lynx in an eighteen-hole golf match at the Bear Trace Course at Chickasaw near Henderson, TN. The course played to a par 72 and nearly 6000 yards in length. Bethel used 332 strokes by four players to complete the course while the Rhodes foursome used 345 strokes. Pacing Bethel was medalist Baillee Johnson, freshman from Pickwick, who shot 77; sophomore Emily Muse of Paris shot 82 earning a tie for third and All-Tournament award; junior Jessica Castleman of Kevil, KY followed with an 83; while freshman Jessi Tracy of Murfreesboro added a 90. Rhodes was led by senior Marianne Galligan-Oltmann 81 (second place and All-Tournament), sophomore Stephanie Mingos 82 (T-3rd and All-Tournament), sophomore Nichole Jones and freshman Christy Siegel both shot 91. Hayley Williams of Trenton carded a 92 for Bethel and Blaylock Ansley and Catherine Casey of Rhodes also participated.

On October 6 and 7 the Wildcat Women competed in the Trevecca Fall Invitational at Ravenwood Country Club in Hermitage, TN. Eight NAIA schools fielded full teams in the event and Lee University sent three individuals. The field for this tournament was the toughest Bethel would face in this season. Among the teams participating were three top twenty five teams; (5) Bethel College of Indiana, led by 2008 national individual champion Shanna Page, (6) Lindsey Wilson College led by 2007 national individual champion Krista Burton and (18) Mobile University. Also participating were Marian College, led by 2008 national All-Tournament golfer Angela Gauck, University of the Cumberlands, and Trans South Conference foe Martin Methodist. Trevecca Nazarene University, defending Trans South Conference Champion, served as the host school. The national powers held form with Bethel, IN finishing first by shooting 325-324( 649), second was Lindsey Wilson 323-332(655), Mobile University was third 335-348(683), followed by Marian College 338-361(699). Bethel, TN 352-356(708) tied for fifth with University of the Cumberlands 355-353(708). Trevecca finished seventh 363-377(740) and Martin Methodist finished eighth at 374-389(763). The Lady Wildcats were led by the T-17th finish of Baillee Johnson 87-85(172) and Emily Muse 86-86(172); Jessi Tracy shot 92-88(180) for T-22nd; Jessica Castleman shot 89-97(186) to finish 28th; and Hayley Williams carded a 90-99(189) to finish tied for 31st. Bethel defeated defending conference champion Trevecca for the first time in a thirty-six hole event and remained undefeated against Martin Methodist. The individual winner was Lee University's Rachel Ingram who shot a four over par total of 148 (73-75).

On October 20th and 21st Bethel played against the largest field of the year when it competed in the Rhodes College Fall Classic at Tunica National Golf Club in Tunica, MS. Bethel was among ten Colleges and Universities to participate in the tournament contested over the watery and sandy course at the Mississippi tourist Mecca. The Wildcat Women finished a very respectable third by shooting 340-336(676) for the lowest thirty-six hole total of Coach Monte Cunningham's two-year tenure. The Wildcats were led once again by Baillee Johnson, who shot 83-73(156) to finish as the fourth lowest individual. Johnson's total garnered an All-Tournament award. Her second day score of one over par 73 was the low single day round of the tournament and a Bethel Women's Golf record for eighteen holes. Jessica Castleman finished 17th 83-86(169); Emily Muse finished T-26th, 87-91(178); Hayley Williams finished T-33rd, 87-97(184); and Jessi Tracy finished 35th, 101-87(187). Birmingham Southern and DePauw (IN) bested Bethel while the Lady Wildcats defeated Centre (KY), Southwestern (TX), Rhodes (TN), Piedmont (GA), Huntingdon (AL), Hendrix (AR), and Millsaps (MS).

The Lady Wildcats concluded the fall campaign in the Santa Rosa Beach Fall Finale at the Santa Rosa Golf and Beach Club in Santa Rosa Beach Florida on October 27th and 28th. The final event was played on the season's toughest course and in its most difficult weather conditions. Sunny Florida skies brought little respite for the competitors who endured steady winds of 25-35 mph and temperatures in the forties both days. Bethel shot 356-360 for a two-day total of 716 good enough for third place three strokes behind second place Spring Hill College of Mobile AL and twelve strokes behind tournament champion Rhodes College of Memphis. Bethel again defeated Huntingdon and Millsaps. The individual champion was 2008 NCAA (D-III) national tournament participant Stephanie Mingos of Rhodes who shot 74-80 for a two-day total of 154. Bethel's own Baillee Johnson finished second and earned All-Tournament designation. Jessica Castleman shot 87-90 for a two-day total of 177 to finish T-5th and earn an All-Tournament award. Emily Muse shot 94-90 (180) to finish T-10th, Jessi Tracy shot 90-99 (189) for 13th place, while Hayley Williams shot 101-102 (203) to finish 17th.

The Lady Wildcats finished the fall season with a record of twelve wins, eight losses and one tie. Bethel was 2-0 against conference opponents and 2-1 against in-state rival Rhodes. In shooting three eighteen hole composite rounds of 340 or lower the Wildcats demonstrated the ability to compete at a very high level in women's collegiate golf.