Alabama Women's Golf Takes Charge
At NCAA Athens Regional
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| Alabama Women's Golf Takes The Lead Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
UA women's golf (289-284/573) will enter today's finale at 3-under par, five shots ahead of second place Baylor (296-282/578), sitting at 2-over par after shooting a 6-under par in the second round. First round leader Michigan State (284-297/581) dropped to third place at 5-over par. Clemson (304-282/586) is fourth at 10-over par. Northwestern (293-295/588) and Tennessee (297-291/588) are all tied up for fifth place at 12-over par. The top six teams at the Athens Regional will advance to the NCAA Women's Golf Championships to be held May 19-24 at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois.
Sophomore Lauren Stephenson (69-70/139) once again shot the low round individually for the Crimson Tide on Tuesday with a 2-under par 70 to move into sole possession of second place, now only one shot off the lead at 5-under par. Alabama sophomore Cheyenne Knight (71-71/142) moved into a tie for sixth place at 2-under par. Freshman Kristen Gillman (73-70/143) is in a tie for ninth place at 1-under par. Senior Mia Landegren (76-73/149) is tied for 34th place with a 5-over par. Junior Lakareber Abe (80-74/154) is tied for 64th at 10-over par.
After yesterday's round, Crimson Tide women's golf head coach Mic Potter said, "We were very consistent and steady today. Having all five players in it all day was the key. Lauren, Kristen and Cheyenne all shot under par, and led us as they have all year. Mia and Lakareber also had solid performances. We came here with one goal in mind and that was to do everything we could to win the tournament. We now have a chance to do that."
The Crimson Tide women's golf team has now qualified for its 13th NCAA tournament, with this being the 12th consecutive tournament under head coach Potter. A win today would give Alabama its third regional championship in the last seven seasons. In 2011 the Tide won the East regionals at Daytona Beach, Florida and then again in 2013 at Auburn.
Alabama will be grouped with Baylor and Michigan State today in the final round. Tee time is scheduled for 8:12 a.m. CT.
Alabama Results
2. Lauren Stephenson- 69-70/139 (-5)
6t. Cheyenne Knight- 71-71/142 (-2)
9t. Kristen Gillman- 73-70/143 (-1)
34t. Mia Landegren- 76-73/149 (+5)
64t. Lakareber Abe- 80-74/154 (+10)
Team Standings
1. ALABAMA- 289-284/573 (-3)
2. Baylor- 296-282/578 (+2)
3. Michigan State- 284-297/581 (+5)
4. Clemson- 304-282/586 (+10)
5t. Northwestern- 293-295/588 (+12)
5t. Tennessee- 297-291/588 (+12)
Alabama Third Round Tee Times
8:12 a.m. (CT): Lakareber Abe
8:21 a.m.: Mia Landegren
8:30 a.m.: Kristen Gillman
8:39 a.m.: Cheyenne Knight
8:48 a.m.: Lauren Stephenson
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Bailey Scott Is Named
Honda Inspiration Award Finalist
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Bailey Scott Is Named
Honda Inspiration Award Finalist
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| University of Alabama's Bailey Scott Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – University of Alabama swimming and diving junior All-American Bailey Scott
has been named as one of three finalists for the 2017 Honda Inspiration Award. the
Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) Awards Inspiration Award committee
chairperson Judy Sweets made the announcement.
The two other finalists named were senior skier Jesse Knori from Colorado
University as well as senior Stanford swimmer Nicole Stafford. The winner of
the 2017 Honda Inspiration Award will be announced this week.
The Honda Inspiration Award is presented annually to a deserving female
student-athlete in Division I, II or III who has experienced
extraordinary physical and/or emotional adversity, injury and/or
illness, or experienced extraordinary personal sacrifice during her
college enrollment as a student-athlete and yet returns to athletic
success.
Alabama Crimson Tide head swimming and diving coach Dennis Pursley commented, "Bailey has always been an impressive young woman, as an athlete, a
student and member of the community, but the way she handled all that
she went through over the past year, has been an inspiration to all of
us. I couldn't be prouder of the way she has represented herself,
this team and our University through the good times and the very hard
times."
Scott was forced to miss most of the 2015-16 season after receiving a diagnosis of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, an orthopedic and vascular condition that
compromises the integrity of the arms, cardiovascular system and lungs.
The syndrome is considered life and limb threatening, due to risk of
blood clots.
Scott did undergo surgery for her condition in November of 2015, bringing an early end to her season, very possibly her career. During her recovery period,
Scott's mother Melisa lost her battle with colon cancer and passed away this past June.
To fulfill a promise to her deceased mom, Scott returned to
competition at the 2016 United States Olympic Trials, where she came
within a tenth of a second of her own school record in the 50-meter
freestyle.
Just last November, Scott seemed to find new life, bettering her school record in the 50
freestyle. At the 2017 Southeastern Conference Championships, Scott proved how much she has progressed, setting school records in the 50 and 100 freestyles. She became the first woman in UA history to go under 22 seconds in the 50,
smashing her own school record with a 21.84 to earn the bronze medal.
Scott won the B final of the 100 freestyle
with a school-record 48.48, taking ninth overall on the meet's last night. She was also part of
the Tide's record-setting 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay at the SEC
Championships.
At the NCAA Championships, after a one-year hiatus
following her surgery, Scott became an All-American in March for the first time.
On the second day of the 2017 NCAA Championships, Scott recorded two
of the three fastest 50 freestyles in school history, coming in at 13th place
and earning Honorable Mention All-America honors in the process. She became the first member of the Alabama women's team to earn
All-America in the 50 freestyle since 1996.
Scott became the first Alabama woman to swim a sub-48 second relay leg,
going 47.91 at the 2017 NCAA Championships to anchor Alabama's 400 medley relay. At the SEC
Championships she posted the fastest 50 relay split in school history
with a 21.42 anchor on Alabama's school record 200 medley relay.
Not only is Scott an above-average performer having earned All-America honors, she has also excelled in her academic life as well, maintaining a
3.52 cumulative grade point average, including a 3.93 in the fall. She
was also named the Crimson Tide's Most Outstanding Swimmer.
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Early Signing Period For Football
Is A Reality
It's a done deal.
College football now has an early signing period.
This week the NCAA's Division 1 Council approved an early signing period for college football back in April, but that didn't make it a done deal. It had to move forward...to the Collegiate Commissioners Association.
The Collegiate Commissioners Association is the group that has been running the National Letter of Intent program...that paper that prospects have to sign in order to be officially associated with the college or university of their choice. The changes mentioned and approved by the Division 1 Council wouldn't be official until okayed by the association. Now, officially, that has been done. The changes have been approved.
The early signing period begins this year. That's right, this year. That period will run from December 20th through December 22nd.
Big. Really big.
Recruiting has changed.
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Alabama Baseball To Host Grambling Tonight
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – The University of Alabama baseball team will play host to Grambling tonight at Sewell-Thomas Stadium for the Crimson Tide's final non-conference contest of the 2017 baseball season. UA and Grambling are slated for a 6 p.m. CT start, with the game airing live on SEC
Network+. Eli Gold will handle play-by-play while Lance Cormier handles color/analysis for the contest.
This will be the first meeting between the two teams. Grambling is 22-27 on the season, and have won seven of their last 10 games. The Tide is 79-6 overall against SWAC schools.
