Alabama Women Capture 2016 SEC Golf Championship

The Alabama women’s golf team fired a 7-under par 281 on Sunday to capture the 2016 SEC Women’s Golf Championship at Greystone Golf & Country Club. The title is the third all-time for the Crimson Tide. Alabama’s previous titles came in 2010 and 2013.

The Tide finished 5-under for the tournament (286-292-281/859) to take the crown. Florida finished second at even par (292-286-286/864). Arkansas finished third at 18-over (300-294-288/882).

The 2016 title also marks the eighth consecutive top five finish in SEC Championship play for Alabama, dating back to 2009.

“This is a group of girls, at the beginning of the year, we weren’t sure what we had,” head coach Mic Potter said. “Cheyenne (Knight), as a freshman, had a good junior career but hadn’t played like she has here. And to be as dominant as she has as a freshman has made a big difference. At the beginning the year, who knew? But the more we play, the better they get. I had faith they could come out here and shoot a low score. But Florida’s a good team and they can, too. All you can do is do your best.”

The Tide finished the round with three players under par for the day and the weekend. Knight led the Tide with a 3-under par 69 final round and finished third in the individual race with a three-day total of 212 (72-71-69). Senior Emma Talley finished fourth overall, one stroke behind Knight at 213 (70-73-70). Sophomore Lakareber Abe finished in a tie for fifth, two shots behind Talley at 215 (70-74-71).

Senior Janie Jackson finished in a tie for 13th with a 4-over par 220 (75-74-71). Sophomore Nicole Morales finished in a tie for 27th with an 8-over par 224 (74-76-74).

Alabama entered the day tied with Florida for the team lead in the tournament at 2-over par. But the Tide jumped to a three-shot lead on the front nine then turned in a solid final nine holes at 2-under par to secure the win.

Next up for the Crimson Tide is the NCAA Regional, which Alabama will host May 5-7 at Shoal Creek Club in Birmingham.