Persson takes medalist honors as Shorter wins at Smoky Mountain

By Matt Green

SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. -- Sophomore Lisa Persson recorded a two-day total of 150 (8-over) to capture medalist honors and lead the Lady Hawks to the team championship at the 2011 Smoky Mountain Intercollegiate held at the Sevierville-Highlands in Sevierville, Tenn.

Persson fired a 1-over 72 in Tuesday's final round to finish two strokes ahead of Columbus State's Kimesha Anthony and West Florida's Camila Sevillano, who tied for second place with a two-day total of 152.

Persson, the 2011 Southern States Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, was one of four Lady Hawks to finish in the top 15 of the 55-athlete, 10-team preseason event.

Maria Bengtson (80-77-157), Petra Muller (79-81-160) and Gabriela Murcia (78-83-161) placed sixth, 12th and 14th, respectively. Freshman Isabella Baldacci, playing her first collegiate event, placed 28th with a two-round total of 86-82-168.

Shorter (627), which earned a national No. 1 ranking before placing third in the 2011 NAIA Women's Golf National Championship, finished six strokes ahead of runner-up Columbus State (633). The University of West Florida (634) placed third followed by tournament host Carson Newman (639) and the University of Montevallo (664).

Shorter had two players compete as individuals. Fiona Cooper recovered from an opening round 81 to shoot 77 in the second round and finish in a tie for eighth at 158. Caitlyn Cook rounded out Shorter's competitors by finishing 27th with a two-day total of 92-75-167.

The Lady Hawks return to action on Sunday and Monday, Sept. 18 and 19, when they travel to Macon, Ga., for the Eat-A-Peach Collegiate hosted by Mercer University.