No. 10 Women’s Golf rallies to win AAC Championship/NAIA Direct Qualifier

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (April 18, 2023) – Heading into the final round of the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Championship/NAIA Direct Qualifier, the No. 10 Milligan University women's golf team was tied with No. 17 SCAD Atlanta at 330 strokes. The Buffs rallied to a tournament-best round of 312 on Tuesday to win the program's sixth AAC title and clinch the Buffs' eighth trip to the NAIA National Championship.

After extremely difficult conditions on Monday, scores were significantly higher than in the AAC Fall Preview at the Link Hills Country Club in the fall. The Buffs and Bees were tied at 330 strokes through round one as all five of the Buffs golfers scored in the 80s.

On Tuesday, Milligan's entire lineup bounced back with every player scoring in the 70s and the Buffs claiming the conference crown by six strokes over SCAD Atlanta. The Buffs ended with a total score of 642, ahead SCAD (648) and No. 16 Truett McConnell (668).

Milligan's entire five-woman lineup finish in the top 12 of the 50-player championship. Despite not having any top-three individual finishers, the Buffs place three players on the all-tournament team with Sarah Castle, Kate Castle and Gabby Hammond finishing in a tie for fourth at 160 strokes.

Sarah Castle led the way for the Buffs on Tuesday with a 77, the second-lowest score of the day. Kate Castle and Alayna Perryman notched a 78 and Hammond and Mallory TeVrucht posted 79s on Tuesday.

Perryman finished ninth at 162 strokes and TeVrucht tied for 12th at 165 strokes.

Kate Castle was honored as the AAC Player of the Year following the tournament. She was joined on the All-AAC First Team by Perryman. Sarah Castle and TeVrucht were tabbed as All-AAC Second Team honorees. Head coach Tony Wallingford collected AAC Women's Golf Coach of the Year honors for the seventh time.

The Buffs led the championship field in total pars (86) and total birdies (15).

Perryman led all players on par-threes with a scoring average of 3.25 for the tournament. Sarah Castle was at least two strokes better than any player in the field on par-fours and Hammond was one of three players that finished even-par on par-fives.

Milligan will compete at the NAIA National Championship May 23-26 at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.