Bryan Golf’s Reinhardt sets AAC record for low 36-hole score
April 2018
Loudon, Tenn. – On the opening round of the 2018 Spring Appalachian Athletic Conference Championship, Bryan College women’s golfer Krista Reinhardt (JR/Tampa, Fla.) was almost even besides a bogey and double bogey that put her at three over (75), just two strokes behind the day one leader Sarah Son of Milligan College (Tenn.) (73). The gap wasn’t enough for the top challengers to hold off Reinhardt as she battled her way to a remarkable second day to capture the first AAC Women’s Individual Championship for the Lions since Audrey Nelson accomplished the feat in 2012.
Reinhardt set the tone early in the last round, tallying a birdie on the first hole and never looked back as she tamed the 5,926-yard Greg Norman Tennessee National Golf Course. She notched another birdie on the 10th hole and had several other opportunities to do so as she wowed the crowd on her impressive approach shots. When the round came to an end, Reinhardt had left the competition behind, topping day one leader Sarah Son by seven strokes and previous second place Courtney Lowery of Point University (Ga.) by five strokes for an even par 72. Her two-day total of 147 (75, 72) not only established her own 36-hole record but shattered a Bryan record that she owned, while also setting a new AAC record for the lowest 36-hole score in conference tournament history.
Freshman Taylor Williams (FR/Lincolnton, N.C.) posted the Lions 2nd best score of the tournament at 175 to finish 46th individually. Christina Lee (SR/Loudon, Tenn.) followed with a 59th-place finish (186), Emily Hutson (SO/Oneida, Tenn.) shot 208 for 69th, and Harley Schronce (SO/Lincolnton, N.C.) ended in 74th with a 237. As a team, the Lions compiled a 716 for 12th place, tying with Reinhardt University (Ga.).
“It was a special performance,” stated Bryan Head Golf Coach, Peter Bollant. “I am extremely proud of Krista and the way she played… good enough to set a new record at the conference championship! She handled the pressure despite the most challenging course we played all year.”
Bollant explained, “This is an elite course where many pins were tucked in extremely difficult positions.”
On the 8th hole, the pin was positioned seven feet from the edge on a small plateau that ran along the left side. One of the few times Reinhardt missed a green was on this particular hole, as she landed on the left side by about 10 feet. She was able to bump and run the chip up the hill and calmly make the tricky downhill 10-footer to save par.
Reinhardt was able to keep pace and cruise to the top spot because of her unwavering composure. “It is one thing to make that kind of tough shot, but it is another to do it under pressure when the AAC title is on the line,” said Bollant. “To win the title by five strokes after trailing by two coming in is also another sign of what a great championship she played.”