No. 9 Women’s Golf and Sarah Castle enjoy record-setting Phoenix Invitational

MT. JULIET, Tenn. (September 12, 2023) – The No. 9 Milligan University women's golf team and junior Sarah Castle had record-setting performances at the Phoenix Invitational at Pine Creek Golf Club.

In a field that featured five ranked teams and another squad receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 poll, Milligan set team records for lowest 18-, 36- and 54-hole totals. The Buffs opened the tournament with a minus-one 287 and finished the first day at even-par after putting up 289 in Monday's second round. The Buffs finished at 868 strokes after a (+4) 292 in the final round. Milligan finished six strokes back of No. 18 Marian, who surged to the tournament title with an eight-under last round. The Buffs finished ahead of No. 8 Cumberlands, No. 16 Cumberland, No. 19 Lindsey Wilson and (RV) UT Southern.

Castle claimed medalist honors first the first time in her career at the three-round event. She topped the tournament field with a (-5) 211 performance. She set Milligan's single-round, 36-hole and 54-hole individual records at the event. Castle matched Milligan's single-round mark with a (-3) 69 and followed it with a (-4) 68 in round two on Monday. Castle won the event by a single stroke with a 74 in round three.

Kate Castle tied for second place and joined Sarah Castle in collecting all-tournament honors at (-4) 212 strokes. She fired back-to-back 72s on Monday before matching Sarah Castle's single-round record with a 68 on Tuesday.

Bailey McGaha shot 73 in the first and third rounds on her way to a 17th-place finish at 224 strokes. Mallory TeVrucht carded a 73 in the first round and Gabby Hammond posted a 74 in the second round. TeVrucht tied for 19th and Hammond finished 25th.

The Buffs return to action at the East Tennessee Collegiate in two weeks at the Johnson City Country Club.