DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Freshman
Sarunchana Rattanasin earned medalist honors, senior
Mia Kness tied for second and Georgia Southern won the Sun Belt Women's Golf Championship Tuesday at the LPGA International Hills Course.
It's the first Sun Belt women's golf title for the Eagles as Georgia Southern began its women's golf program in 2015-16. Rattanasin is the second Eagle to earn medalist honors, joining
Ella Ofstedahl, who won the event in 2019 at LPGA International.
The Eagles advance to NCAA Regionals for the first time and will find out where they will play during the NCAA Women's Golf Selection Show Wednesday, April 27, at 5 p.m. ET on the Golf Channel.
The Eagles (+31) led the tournament wire to wire and topped defending champion Coastal Carolina (+35) by four strokes. Arkansas State (+36) finished third, and Texas State (+40) was fourth.
Rattanasin (+4) won the individual title by a stroke over Kness (+5) and UTA's Heidrun Hlynsdottir.
Sophomore
Abby Newton fired a 73 in today's final round, tying for the lowest score of the day, and finished tied for 11th. Senior
Madison Heideman posted a 75, the Eagles' second-lowest score, and finished tied for 27th.
Kness paced the Eagles with a 69 in the first round, while Rattanasin shot an even-par 72. Rattanasin backed that up with the second round's lowest score, a 70, and came into the final round with a three-stroke lead. Georgia Southern entered the final 18 holes with a two-stroke advantage over the Chanticleers.
The Eagles led the tournament with 180 pars, and Rattanasin and Kness were named to the all-tournament team.
Results
Team – 294-299-302=895 (+31), 1
Sarunchana Rattanasin – 72-70-78=220 (+4), 1
Mia Kness – 69-76-76=221 (+5), T2
Abby Newton – 76-76-73=225 (+9), T11
Madison Heideman – 77-77-75=229 (+13), T27
Kaysie Harrelson – 82-82-SB
Amy Gao – SB-SB-81
Gallery: (4-19-2022) 2022 Women's Golf: Sun Belt Champions
