No. 14 Loyola finishes second at SSAC Championship

GREENVILLE, Ala. – The No. 14 Loyola Wolf Pack women's golf team wrapped up the Southern States Athletic Conference Women's Golf Championship on Wednesday, placing second behind No. 2 Dalton State. The Pack carded a 904 (+40) during the three rounds of the Championship, and DSC won the event with an 879 score (+15) while No. 7 William Carey placed third after shooting a team score of 917 (+53). 
 

Loyola's second-place position is the best finish for the program since the team won the 2019 SSAC Championship, and this year's squad tied that team for the third-best 54-hole team score in program history. 
 

Emma Smithers led the Wolf Pack by placing in third place on the individual leaderboard, which is the best finish at the conference tournament of her career. The senior carded a three-round total of 221 (+5) after her third-round of 76 (+4), and that's good enough for the sixth-best 54-hole score by a Wolf Pack women's golfer in program history. She started her day with four straight pars before a bogey on the fifth hole, then 11 more pars, one more bogey and a double bogey brought Smithers to her 4-over score. 
 

Wednesday also marked Smithers' eighth Top 5 finish and 16th Top 10 finish of her career, which is fourth and third, respectively, in program history. 
 

Daniella Salazar added her fifth career Top 10 finish, placing in a tie for sixth with a three-round total of 225 (+9). That tournament score is also good for the 10th-best in program history, as she capped off her week with a third-round score of 76 (+4). The senior had three birdies on her card on Wednesday, but she also had a bogey and three double bogeys to go with her 11 pars. 
 

Blair McKenzie made it three Loyola golfers in the Top 10, with the sophomore placing in a tie for eighth place. She had a tournament total of 226 (+10) after her round of 80 (+8) on Wednesday, and it's the fifth Top 10 finish of her career. 
 

Catherine Singletary was next for the Wolf Pack in a tie for 16th place, and Lainey Cristan also finished in the Top 20 in 18th place. Singletary shot a 77 (+5) on Wednesday to bring her to a 236 (+20), and Cristan had an 81 (+9) during her third round to finish with a 238 (+22). Playing as an individual, Kaitlyn Montoya had her best day of the tournament, shooting a 79 (+7) on Wednesday to finish in a tie for 22nd with a week-long score of 248 (+32). 
 

The team will now turn its attention to the NAIA Women's Golf National Championship, which is set for May 23-26 at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois. 
 

Women's Team Leaderboard

1. #2 Dalton State – Round 1: 295 | Round 2: 302 | Round 3: 282 | Total: 879 (+15)
2. #14 Loyola – Round 1: 293 | Round 2: 302 | Round 3: 309 | Total: 904 (+40)
3. #7 William Carey – Round 1: 306 | Round 2: 306 | Round 3: 305 | Total: 917 (+53)
 

Loyola Women's Leaderboard

3. Emma Smithers – Round 1: 72 | Round 2: 73 | Round 3: 76 | Total: 221 (+5)
T6. Daniella Salazar – Round 1: 71 | Round 2: 78 | Round 3: 76 | Total: 225 (+9)
T8. Blair McKenzie – Round 1: 72 | Round 2: 74 | Round 3: 80 | Total: 226 (+10)
T16. Catherine Singletary – Round 1: 82 | Round 2: 77 | Round 3: 77 | Total: 236 (+20)
18. Lainey Cristan – Round 1: 78 | Round 2: 79 | Round 3: 81 | Total: 238 (+22)
T22. Kaitlyn Montoya (I) – Round 1: 83 | Round 2: 86 | Round 3: 79 | Total: 248 (+32)
 

SSAC All-Tournament Team

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