BLYTHEWOOD — Newberry took on Carson-Newman in a unique event on Saturday, playing 18 holes in a medal match play format against their South Atlantic Conference foes at Cobblestone Park Golf Club.

In the end, clean sweeps by Nabila Inak, Johana Lunackova, and Taylor Lance gave Newberry a 6-4 win and momentum heading into the remainder of the Wolves’ spring competition schedule.

The event consisted of matches pitting Newberry golfers against those of Carson-Newman in order of rank. Two points were awarded in each match, one for stroke play and the other for match play. The stroke play, or medal, point was awarded to the golfer with the lowest overall score through 18 holes. The match play point went to the golfer who “won” more holes against her competitor.

While all five matches featured golfers sweeping both points, the bout between the No. 2 players was in doubt until the final hole. Lunackova took the medal play point over Carson-Newman’s Allie Fletcher, finishing six strokes ahead with a five-over 76, but saw a large lead slip away in match play. Lunackova finished the back nine two up and was three up with four holes to play.

Fletcher, however, came storming back, besting Lunackova by five strokes on her way to winning the next three holes. With the golfers all square heading into the 18th, Lunackova holed out for par while Fletcher settled for a bogey to clinch the match play point for Newberry.

Lance, who was one stroke from equaling her career low with a five-over 76, finished four up on her Carson-Newman counterpart. Newberry’s No. 4 player finished tied for the lowest individual score of the tournament with Lunackova despite recently returning from an injury, birdieing three holes on the back nine.

Inak finished four up on Elizabeth England, Carson-Newman’s top player who has landed on the all-South Atlantic Conference second team for two consecutive seasons, and outpaced her by four shots in stroke play to give Newberry two of its six points. She provided one of the highlights for Newberry, sticking her tee shot within a foot of the cup on the par-3 11th before tapping in for birdie.

Carson-Newman’s No. 3 player, Jessica Hart, earned two points with wins over Annabelle Dallery, while Katie Medley earned two more when Kate Spaid withdrew after 11 holes.

The Wolves will return to action with tournaments in Savannah, Ga., and Jacksonville, Fla., during Spring Break in March.

Newberry took on Carson-Newman in a unique event on Saturday, playing 18 holes in a medal match play format against their South Atlantic Conference foes at Cobblestone Park Golf Club.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_Golf.jpgNewberry took on Carson-Newman in a unique event on Saturday, playing 18 holes in a medal match play format against their South Atlantic Conference foes at Cobblestone Park Golf Club. Courtesy photo

Staff Report