BARDSTOWN, Ky. — Campbellsville Lady Tiger Freshman Cassidy Scantland overcame a shaky final round and held on to win the 2014 Mid-South Conference Championship, sponsored by Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken of Bardstown. She went on to also sweep the MSC anual honors, being named MSC Freshman and Player of the Year.
"This is a great win for Cassidy," said CU Head Coach Brent Vernon. "She struggled for a lot of the day and withheld some great golf from other great players but having that four stroke lead coming into the final round helped a lot. It was a three-day tournament, and she proved she was the best in these previous three days."
With the victory, Scantland is only the second Lady Tiger in history to win the MSC Tournament and advance to the NAIA Women's Golf National Chamoionships, which will be May 20-23 at Wilderness Ridge Golf Club in Lincoln, Neb. She is also only the third Campbellsville recipient to be awarded Player of the Year honors and is CU's first MSC Freshman of the Year.
"This is pretty incredible," said Scantland. "I never imagined I would ever come in as a freshman and win the entire conference. I am pretty excited to go to the national tournament, especially as a freshman. I can't wait for the experience and it will be fun with me and ol' Vern (head coach Brent Vernon)."
With the victory, Scantland picked up her sixth win in her first year as a Lady Tiger and has now won three-straight tournaments.
"To have six wins in your first colligiate season is amazing," said Vernon. "Heck to have six wins in a career is an accomplishment but she did that in a single season. Throw on top of all that, she was named Freshman and Player of the Year in the conference. It's safe to say the future is bright for Cassidy and the rest of the program."
In addition to Scantland's honors, Vernon helped Campbellsville sweep the MSC post season awards, as he was named Coach of the Year in his second season as head coach. Vernon's team won three tournaments this season and finished third in the MSC regular season and touranment. CU played the entire spring with an all-freshman lineup.
Campbellsville's all-freshman team (964) finished third in the overall team standings, behind champion University of the Cumberlands (922) and Lindsey Wilson College (951).
But the final round for Scantland had a little extra importance. She already had MSC Freshman of the Year in the bag after winning five previous tournaments in her short career but if she hung on late to remain within 10 strokes of her opponents, she would be named conference Player of the Year.
And hang on she did. The freshman from Greensburg, Ky., finished her third round with an eight-over par, 80.
"I was definitely nervous going into today's round and the adrenaline was rolling all the way up to my first tee shot," said Scantland. "I didn't finish the way I wanted too but I knew all along I could pull it out and hang on down the stretch."
Scantland picked up a seven-stroke lead after her first six holes but a few bad shots started to mount up and the rest of the field was able to get back in it.
"I was feeling really good after she went up by seven shots," said CU Head Coach Brent Vernon. "But when it started to go down to six, five, four and then three, I started to get really nervous."
Bri Tokariwski from University of the Cumberlands and Kaitlin Allan from Lindsey Wilson College were both on the heels of Scantland in the third round. Allan was in the final pairing with Scantland but neither one could take advantage of the others dropped shots. Every time Scantland would bogey, so did Allan and vice-versa.
That allowed Tokariwski to get back in the chase in the final few holes and she was inches away from forcing a playoff.
Scantland struggled to find consistency in her game all afternoon, as she finished with nine bogeys and one birdie. But it all seemed like it would change after a beautiful bunker shot off the green on hole No. 6 (her 15th hole). With a 2-foot birdie putt left to extend her lead to four strokes, but with three holes to play, Scantland's putt lipped out and left the window open for Tokariwski.
Going into the final hole up two shots, Scantland needed a par or better to put the pressure on Tokariwski. But Tokariwski had one final hole remaining as well and the par-five 10th hole was her best opportunity for red numbers.
After Scantland bogeyed her final hole, Tokariwski was only down one stroke and needed a birdie to force a playoff. Her 15-foot birdie putt had the right line but fell just two inches below the hole, sealing the victory for Scantland.
"My nerves were at an all-time high today," said Vernon. "Especially the final six holes. Cassidy had extended her lead through six holes and then this crazy game of golf took over and some errant plays by her as well as great play by Bri (Towariwski) made the final stretch very nerve racking. After Cassidy finished her round we knew it came down to what Bri did on the final hole. Birdie and it goes to sudden-death. Par or worse and Cassidy wins. Bri made a great run at birdie and just missed below the hole. When that putt missed, I let out a huge sign of relief."
The win also secured Scantland's 3-stroke lead for MSC Player of the Year, which is awarded to the individual with the best five of seven rounds in the MSC Fall Tournament, MSC Spring Tournament and MSC Championship. Scantland's best five added up to 376, while Towariwski had a 379.
Campbellsville, as a team, overcame a lot of obstacles in the first two rounds. The Lady Tigers were in second place after round one and just seven strokes off the lead. But days two and three seemed to be a different story. CU dropped behind Lindsey Wilson College to third in the standings after the second round and was 14 strokes off the lead.
Wednesday's final round didn't sit pretty with any of the Lady Tigers. Olivia Parrot led the way for CU with a final round 79 (+7). Scantland was next with her eight-over, 80. Ashley Goodin also improved on her second round with Parrot, shooting a 10-over par 80. Anna Marie Hyatt, who was just five strokes off the leaders after day one, seemed to find every nook and cranny there was on the course today and finished with a 14-over par, 86.
Grace Gupton tied her teammate Hyatt with an 86, as well. Gupton was the only Lady Tiger to improve her scores in every round (+18, +15, +14).
"It was a great first year for this group of girls," said Vernon. "I would be lying if I didnt think we all wished we had done a little better in the final two rounds, but I couldn't have asked for more out of this group. They worked extremely hard day in and day out and have continued to get better as the season progressed. We have learned a great deal this season and we will continue to work and improve when these girls are sophomores next year."
Although the season is over for the other four Lady Tigers, Scantland will now move on to play in the NAIA National Tournament on May 20-23 at the Wilderness Ridge Golf Club in Lincoln, Neb. Check www.CampbellsvilleTigers.com closer to the day for more information regarding the national touranment.
"Cassidy is a tireless worker and is always at the course fine-tuning her skills," said Vernon. "She can compete with anyone and I am excited for the opportunity she has in front of her in Nebraska."
As always you can follow Lady Tiger golf on Twitter - @CvilleTigers and Facebook - CampbellsvilleTigers. Also for all Campbellsville Athletic events, photos, and news releases check out www.CampbellsvilleTigers.com.
