• HPU’s three-round total of 898 was the second-best mark in program history
• Junior Danielle Fuss posted a 54-hole total of 215, just two strokes off the program record
• Senior Tan Cheeranont posted a final round 71 (-1) to move up 19 spots on the individual leaderboard
PINEHURST, N.C. – The High Point University women’s golf team posted a final round 295 at the Pinehurst Challenge Tuesday to put the finishing touches on the second-best 54-hole total in program history.
HPU’s three-round total of 898 (305-298-295) was just five strokes more than the team’s all-time low score of 893, set at last season’s Oregon State Invitational.
Junior Danielle Fuss led the way with a spectacular two days of play on the Pinehurst No. 1 course. The Rochester, N.Y., native matched her career-low round of 70 Tuesday, her second-straight round under par. Fuss’ 54-hole total of 215 also set a new career best and was two strokes off of the program’s all-time record of 213 set by senior Tan Cheeranont earlier this season at the William & Mary Invite.
It also marks just the second-time an HPU student-athlete has been under par in a 54-hole tournament. Cheeranont also accomplished the feat (-3) at the William & Mary Invite.
Cheeranont fired a strong final round score of 71 (-1) Tuesday at Pinehurst to move up 19 spots and finish in a tie for 45th-place. She notched a three-round total of 222 (76-75-71, +6).
The Panthers finished 16th in the strong field. East Carolina won the team title (857) followed by Chattanooga (863) and Elon (866).
“Danielle had a great tournament and we played well as a team,” head coach Vici Pate Flesher said. “I was happy we improved everyday. We made a lot of birdies today as a team and Tan finished the tournament well. We made some bogeys but that’s OK when you’re rolling a lot of birdies in. We need to focus on getting stronger from the start moving forward into the final tournament of the fall.”
Sophomore Cayla Smith placed t-75th in Pinehurst with a 54-hole total of 230 (78-72-80, +14).
Freshman Jenny Zhang wrapped up the tournament with a strong 74 in final round action, moving her up eight spots to t-79th (231, 77-80-74). Fellow freshman Landrie Grace finished with a two-day total of 245 (79-84-82) to place 101st.
The Panthers wrap up the 2015 fall season Oct. 18-20 at the Fighting Camel Classic at Keith Hill Country Club in Buies Creek, N.C.