Women's golf team places eighth at NJCAA Division I National Tournament

The Eastern Florida State College women's golf team placed eighth overall at the NJCAA Division I National Tournament in Garden City, Kansas Friday.

The Titans tied Seminole State College for the lowest score of the day, firing a 304 in the final round. Eastern Florida State College moved up one spot in the overall standings and shot 1260 for the four-day tournament.

"With a little better balance we would have been under 300 today, it is a nice bounce back and any coach out there will tell you that to show up when you are just showing up is a good sign," Eastern Florida State College women's golf coach Jamie Howell said.

Freshman Sarah Knitter shot an even par 72 in the final round and placed seventh overall in the tournament, making the all-tournament team. Knitter made birdies on No. 7 and No. 9 and made the turn 1-under and then made par on eight of the nine holes on the back nine to shoot 72. Knitter was 16-over for the tournament.

"She is only going to get better, she puts in the work and had a real good tournament, she was disappointed in yesterday's round but we were all disappointed in yesterday's round," Howell said.

Teammate Savannah Hawthorne had her best round of the tournament in her final round with the Titans, shooting a 1-over 73. The sophomore made the turn even par and then after a bogey on No. 10, made birdies on No. 11, No. 14 and No. 15 to go to 2-under. But a slipup on No. 16 put her back to even par.

Hawthorne finished tied for 20^th overall in the tournament. Gracie Doke shot a 79 and finished tied for 38^th overall while Jasmine Yang battled back from a tough front nine to shoot 2-over on the back nine and finish with an 80. Morela Boyd also played her final round with the Titans, shooting an 84 to finish tied for 50^th overall.

It is the second straight season that the Titans have made the national tournament and have finished in the top 10 in each of them.

"I didn't drive all this way to finish eighth but at the same time I am proud of them," Howell said. "We talked about it every night, did you do the best that you could and they looked me in the eye and said absolutely, you can't ask for more than that. Proud of that, we just have to find ways to score better."

Seminole State College won the national title for the fourth straight year, shooting 304 in the final round. Daytona State College was second and Western Texas Community College placed third. Seminole State College's Pearl Phoncharatkun shot a 75 on Friday and won the individual title with a 296.