Emotional end to Radford University years for Hannah Coles

FROM A US COLLEGE GOLF CORRESPONDENT

On a very emotional day, Hannah Coles from Birmingham, playing her last round for Radford University, Virginia led the team to a tie for fifth place in this week's Big South Conference finals.

Despite not living up to their seeding, the Radford squad have had an excellent season. A brilliant win at Winthrop, only their second in team history, and a second-place finish at Western Carolina were the obvious highlights.

Hannah, pictured right, and team-mate Jade Okomata have also been rewarded with 'player of the week' by the Big South Conference coaches, and both also received end of season recognition for their overall performances and academic achievements.

They have been ably assisted by Paisley-born freshman Kirsty Condon from Lincolnshire, Paige Reese and junior Amy McCollum. Radford head coach Jeff Beeler is already looking forward to next year!

Sammy Vass from Tain in Ross-shire is on the extreme right of the Gardner-Webb University, North Carolina team who this week finished runners-up in the Big South Women's Conference Championship.

SAMMY VASS HELPS GARDNER-WEBB FINISH RUNNERS-UP

IN BIG SOUTH WOMEN'S CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Former Scotland junior international Sammy Vass has found her feet as a sophomore transfer student at Gardner-Webb University, North Carolina in the 2010-2011 US college golf season ... capping her campaign by playing a big part in her college finishing second in the Big South Women's Conference Championship at The Patriot Golf Club, Ninety-six (yes, that's the name of the South Carolina town/city!) this past week.
Sammy's tied 10th place finish was just about her best performance over two years in the States, the first of which was spent as a fringe-team player at the University of Central Florida.
She had rounds of 81, 76 and 77 for a total of 234, finishing ahead of Radford University's pair of British students, Hannah Coles (15th on 238 with scores of 79-80-79) and fellow Scot Kristy Condon (27th on 245 with scores of 82-82-81).
Sammy and the rest of the Gardner-Webb University team were put under real pressure in the championship when one of their players went down with an illness at the end of the first day.
Normally, a team counts only the best four scores from their five players. If you have only four players - as Gardner-Webb did for the last two rounds - then all of their scores count. Absolutely no margin for error.
Coastal Carolina won the Big South Women's Championship with a total of 912. Gardner-Webb were runners-up with 930 - a great performance by a comparatively small university. Bucknell (949) were third and High Point (953) fourth and Radford (959) fifth in the field of nine teams.
Jessica Alexander (Coastal Carolina) was the individual title winner with rounds of 75, 78 and 72 for a total of 225 over the 6,025yd (par-72) course.
She won by one shot.