The University of Mississippi Athletics
From the Tee Box at the 2016 SEC Championships
4/16/2016 | Athletics, Blog
As the Ole Miss women's golf team tees it upthis weekend at the 2016 SEC Championships at Greystone Golf and Country Clubin Birmingham, OleMissSports.com tagged along to record some of thebehind-the-scenes action and each day will bring five observations from theround.
1. Senior Hovatter Goes Low on Day Two
Alabama native Alison Hovatter(Meridianville, Ala.) fired a 1-under par 71 in second day action at the 2016SEC Championship. Hovatter, who is playing in her fourth SEC championship,carded her first round of under par on the second day and her 71 is the lowestround she's registered in postseason action. Prior to today's 71, Hovatter'spostseason best was a 73 at the 2013-14 SEC Championship on the GreystoneFounders Course. In fact, Hovatter's round of 71 is the best round for an OleMiss player in the SEC Championship since former Ole Miss women's golfer SaraGrantham recorded two rounds under par en route to a fifth place finish in2010. Hovatter entered the SEC Championship with a team-best 74.97 stokeaverage and has been Ole Miss' top finisher in the last five tournaments.
2. Words From Assistant Coach Drew Belt
Ole Misshead coach Kory Henkes and assistantcoach Drew Belt combine to make agreat coaching tandem for the Rebels and Belt gave OleMissSports.com a few ofhis thoughts from today's round:
"I'm reallyexcited about Martina (Flori). This is her best tournament of the year so farand it's her first SEC Championship as a freshman so it's really awesome to seeher perform. Alison (Hovatter) also struck the ball really well today. She hit15 greens and the green's she missed she chipped in. She has really performedwell. As a team its lots of fun to see some smiles and play well and competewith some of these better players."
3. Club of the Day
Some daysyou have a club that just gets you out of a jam or one that has been makingsome shots for you. As Alison Hovatter put it "My driver just kept me in playall day" Today, the Ole Miss women's golf team shared their "Club of the Day"
Maria Toennessen - 8 Iron
Martina Flori - Putter
Madisen Bentley - Driver
Alison Hovatter - Driver
Abby Newton - Sand wedge
4. Looking at the Leaderboard
Ole Miss enterschampionship Sunday sitting in eighth place, moving up a spot after carding a300 in the second round. Something interesting to look at is the squad's theRebels are ahead of in the standings. Ole Miss entered the SEC Championshipranked No. 107 according to the Golfstat ranking but right now sits ahead ofNo. 26 Tennessee, No. 35 Vanderbilt and No. 48 LSU.
5. Saturday Attire
The Rebelsdonned a more traditional outfit for the second round of action. Ole Miss worewhite sleeveless tops with light gray polka-dotted shorts. The outfit wastopped off with a gray long sleeve top and navy hat.
Additional Tidbits:
Dinner Options: The Rebels havedinned at Kobe Japanese Hibachi and Steakhouse and Carrabba's after rounds whilein Birmingham.
I Know You: The Rebels will be paired with Tennessee and South Carolina onchampionship Sunday. Head coach Kory Henkes knows a thing or two about theGamecocks as she is a Columbia native and played for the Gamecocks from 2001-04.
Early To Bed: On this trip freshman Martina Flori is hitting the hay pretty early. She enjoys hershuteye and needs 8-10 to function so her 8:45 pm bedtime on Friday night wason the late end of things.
Looking Ahead: Ole Miss is sitting in eighth place enteringthe final round and should they finish in that same position it would be thebest finish for the Rebels at the SEC Championship since a eighth place finishin 2010. Ole Miss' best finishes were in 1999 (Third) and 1998 (Sixth).
