SEVIERVILLE, Tenn.—The Bellarmine University women's golf team opened its Division I era by competing in the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate hosted by Tennessee Tech University at the Sevierville Golf Club's Highlands Course on March 14, 15 and 16.
 
The Knights finished 11th in the 13-team field with freshman Josephine Bonin leading the team with an aggregate score of 238 after rounds of 76, 82, and 80.
 
Future ASUN rival Eastern Kentucky won the event with a 54-hole score of 889, which outpaced runner-up Findlay by 27 shots.  The Colonels' Ragga Kristinsdottir took medalist honors with rounds of 70, 72 and 73 to finish two shots clear of Western Carolina's Victoria Ladd.
 
The good news for Bellarmine Coach Art Henry is that a different player led the Knights in scoring each round, indicating good team depth with four different players posting rounds in the 70s. 
 
Following Bonin's opening round 76, fellow freshman Jessica Stephens carded a 78 in round two to lead the Knights while Caroline McCrorey's final round 76 was best on Tuesday. Olivia Pennybaker also broke 80 in the opening round, finishing with a 77 on Sunday. Alaina Schmitt closed with an 80 to just miss a round in the 70s.
 
The Knights return to action on Saturday when they'll take a short trip up I-71 to face Northern Kentucky in match play.  The competition will be played at Boone Links Golf Course in Florence, Kentucky.
 
FINAL RESULTS (PDF)

FINAL RESULTS (GOLFSTAT)