BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE REPORT FROM SOUTH CAROLINA

 SCOT KIRSTY PLAYS FINAL TOURNEY 

AS A STUDENT IN UNITED STATES

REPORT FROM KEN CONDON

The Big South Conference, played at The Patriot Club, Grand Harbor, Ninety Six, South Carolina, was the finale Stateside for many student athletes, including Paisley-born Radford University student Kirsty Condon (pictured below), and Charleston Southern'ss Vanessa Jay from Bedfordshire.

On the opening day, played in perfect conditions, both were eclipsed by Radford’s Yorkshire freshman, Olivia Jay (no relation to Vanessa) who shot an excellent 75. 

Vanessa scored 80, and Kirsty, with borrowed clubs, an 86! 

Meanwhile, Campbell University were tearing the course apart with a cumulative score of 278 (68-69-69-72), which gave them a 19-stroke lead going into the second round.

Similar conditions prevailed on the second day when Vanessa shot 81, Kirsty 82, and Olivia 84. Campbell University's lead just got bigger with a 27-shot advantage going into a possible last day!

Forecasters suggested there might be no further play on Day 3, so tee-times were adjusted accordingly to account for ‘the forecast’! As it turned out, the course was playable but underwater in various areas in the morning, so the re-arranged 10am tee-offs did happen! 

So came the last day, with horrendous conditions over the last few holes, culminating in an hour's suspension for flooding. 

Both Vanessa and Kirsty, (still on borrowed clubs), shot their best rounds of their finale with 77 and 79 respectively. Olivia (skippy) faded with an 89, but has got another three goes (2015-2016-2017) at it!

Not surprisingly, Campbell were victorious on 864 (278-289-297) followed by Coastal  Carolina on 894, and Campbell set new records after each round! 

Individually, Campbell University players  filled the first three places – 1^st Louise Latorre 213 (68-73-72), 2^nd Tahnia Ravnjak 214 (72-69-73), 3^rd Kaylin Jost 215 (69-73-73)

It was very humbling to watch three Radford senior students break down in tears towards the end, but to do what they did on their last hole in USA collegiate golf was stunning!

KEN CONDON