GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- Despite a steady rain most of the day and cold temperatures, the Lindsey Wilson College women's golf team posted a strong second-round score of 314 to cruise past its nearest competitor by 19 strokes and win the Mid-South Conference Tournament Championship on Tuesday at the Cherry Blossom Golf Club.
The Blue Raiders took a total of 632 (318-314) strokes to win the championship, while the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) finished second with a score of 651 (325-326). Campbellsville (Ky.) University rounded out the top three carding a 675 (344-331).
Georgetown (Ky.) College finished fourth with a score of 742 (363-379) and St. Catharine (Ky.) College took fifth place by carding an 866 (427-439). Pikeville (Ky.) College did not finish at the championship after two of its student-athletes withdrew from the field.
Lindsey Wilson's Jessica Smith was the individual titlist, scoring a 151 (76-75), while also being named the MSC Player of the Year at the annual awards banquet on Tuesday.
Krista Burton trailed Smith for the individual title by just two strokes with a 153 (78-75), finishing second overall, while Cheslee Stone tied for fourth place with a 160 (78-82).
Chelsey Key tied for eighth place overall after scoring a 168 (86-82) and Kelsey Joslyn rounded out the Blue Raider line up in 20th place with a 183 (87-96).
Playing as individuals, Paola Gonzalez (163) and Jennifer MacKinnon (180) finished seventh and 18th overall, respectively.
As a team, Lindsey Wilson led the championship in par-four scoring with a 4.48 average and paced the field in birdies (12) and pars (87).
Smith was the overall individual leader in birdies with five, while finishing tied for second in pars with stone with 20 each.
A Blue Raider golfer led the championship in par-three, par-four and par-five scoring. Burton paced the par-three holes with a one-over par showing, Smith controlled the par fours with a three-over score and Gonzalez took over the par fives with the only mark under par of one under.
Burton, Stone and Key all earned a spot on the all-conference team, while Burton and Stone also received academic all-conference honors. Cumberlands' McKinzie Price was named the MSC Freshman of the Year.
Players earned the conference honors by taking the four best scores of the six conference rounds played during the season.
With the MSC Championship, Lindsey Wilson earns the automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship on May 25-28 at the Meadowbrook Municipal Golf Club in Rapid City, S.D.
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