KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – Sarunchana Rattanasin shot a school-record three-round total of 71-66-68=205 (-11) to finish second and lead the Georgia Southern women's golf team to a second-place finish at the Buccaneer Classic, which concluded Tuesday at Oak Point Golf Course.
The Eagles' three-round total of 851 is also a school record and beats the old mark by 20 strokes. Keyed by a school-record tying 66 in the second round, Rattanasin's 205 tops the 209 shot by
Ella Ofstedahl in the 2019 Idle Hour Collegiate by four strokes.
Coastal Carolina (-25), the defending Sun Belt Conference champions, recorded an 11-under-par 277 today to win the tournament, and the Eagles (-13) finished six strokes ahead of Limestone (-7). Western Carolina (+8) was fourth, followed by Houston Baptist (+14).
Alexandra Stevenson (-1) tied for ninth,
Emma Bell (E) tied for 12th and
Mia Kness (+6) tied for 23rd. As a team, the Eagles finished second in par-3 and par-5 scoring and third in par-4 scoring. GS ranked third in the field with 51 birdies and shot a school record 278 in the second round, besting the old mark of 280 they set last week at the Edisto Island Invitational.
Rattanasin made seven birdies against one bogey for her 66 in the second round and played her final 12 holes of the tournament 6-under, ending the event with three consecutive birdies.
Stevenson birdied two of her first four holes, played the back nine 2-under and finished the second round with six consecutive pars for a 69. She made four birdies into today's third round and played her final six holes of the event 1-under for a 71.
Bell made four birdies and shot 2-under on the back nine on her way to a 69 to lead the Eagles in the first round. Kness posted a 70 after making three birdies and shooting 2-under on the back nine.
Abby Newton birdied her first hole and played her first eight holes 3-under on her way to a 71 in the second round, while
Madison Heideman, playing as an individual this week, shot 1-under on the back nine today to match her career low with a 72.
Results
Team – 285-278-288=851 (-13), 2
Sarunchana Rattanasin – 71-66-68=205 (-11), 2
Alexandra Stevenson – 75-69-71=215 (-1), T9
Emma Bell – 69-72-75=216 (E), T12
Mia Kness – 70-74-78=222 (+6), T23
Madison Heideman* – 74-77-72=223 (+7), T26
Abby Newton – 80-71-74=225 (+9), T35
* Played as individual
Quotables from Coach Mimi Burke
"This one definitely hits hard for not only me but the entire team. We had an elite day yesterday in rounds 1 and 2. We were leading the field in birdies but fell short today. This team is extremely talented and hardworking. They are not content with a second-place finish and are eager to get back to work to close the gap come April."
Up Next
The Eagles finish off the fall at the Mercer Invitational Nov. 8-9, at Brickyard Golf Club in Macon.
