NEED TO KNOW:
Piedmont Leader: 1st: Erin Donovan, 73-74-69 = 216 (E)
As a Team: 14th of 24
Event Information: 24 teams; 120 golfers
The Course: Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort (Sandestin, Fla.); (Par 72; 5,601 yards)

SANDESTIN, Fla.. - Needing to make birdie on two of her final three holes, Erin Donovan was up to the task, taking the Golfweek October Classic Individual Title by one stroke, as Piedmont women's golf concluded play on Tuesday afternoon in Sandestin, Florida.

 

Looking to claim her Piedmont record ninth individual title, Donovan sat in seventh place coming into Tuesday's final round, four strokes behind the leaders. The senior from Southaven, Mississippi proved ready for the moment, racing out to a fast start with three birdies on her first eight holes.

However, it was not going to be without adversity, as she made bogey three times over a five-hole stretch from No. 9 to No. 13. Refocused for the final few holes, Donovan made birdie on the par-3 16th and was on the tee on the par-5 18th needing birdie to claim the solo title.

Not knowing where she stood on the leaderboard, Donovan was faced with a 50-yard wedge shot for her third shot into the par-5. She nearly holed it, and only needed a tap-in to take the title with a final round of 3-under 69.

 

As a team, the Lions placed 14th out of 24 teams against some of the strongest competition in NCAA DIII. Keegan Goins helped the cause with a second consecutive round in the 70's, The junior carded a 6-over 78 after a second round 77 to finish tied for 45th.

Elsewhere, freshmen Aubree Hill and Zoe Shuttlesworth delivered the final two counting rounds, with both carding 86's. Lila Polakowski closed out the event with an 89.

LIONS ON THE LEADERBOARD:
 

14	Piedmont University	317	312	319	948
1	Erin Donovan (1)	73	74	69	216
T45	Keegan Goins (2)	80	77	78	235
T88	Aubree Hill (3)	86	80	86	252
T95	Zoe Shuttlesworth (5)	79	89	86	254
T98	Lila Polakowski (4)	85	81	89	255

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Donovan has now won two of the three events in which she has competed this fall.
- She was the only golfer in the 120 person field to finish at par or better over the 54 holes.
- Donovan has now won the individual title in 9-of-31 collegiate events played, good for a 29% winning percentage. For context, Annika Sorenstam's career winning percentage on the LPGA Tour was 23% and Tiger Woods' career winning percentage on the PGA Tour was 22%.

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