Rhodes College to Induct Women’s Golf Teams
Rhodes College will induct its historic women’s golf national championship teams into the Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame on Nov. 14 during the college’s Homecoming/Reunion Weekend, news.rhodes.edu reported. Led by coach and alumnus Mike Clary ’77, the program stands as the only athletic program at the college to claim three NCAA Division III National Championships, securing titles across the 2013-2014, 2015-2016, and 2016-2017 seasons.
Building a Champion from Unranked Roots in 2014
The program’s first national title in May 2014 began with an unranked designation in NCAA Division III women’s golf, according to news.rhodes.edu. The roster took shape following the arrival of first-year players Meg Healy, Pearlissa Harris, and Clarice Cannon, alongside transfer Megan Richards, and an incoming class in August 2013 featuring Sarahanne Vaughan, Nikki Isaacson, and Jessica Zweifel. After finishing fourth at the Golfweek Invitational and twelfth nationally in the fall, the Lynx captured the 2014 Southern Athletic Association Championship.
Entering the NCAA tournament at the Mission Inn in Florida as the eight seed, Rhodes established a 10-stroke lead in the opening round and led wire-to-wire to win by 24 strokes, news.rhodes.edu reported. Clary appointed Mary Reed as a coach on the course for the tournament. Individually, Jessica Zweifel placed third, Nikki Isaacson finished fourth, and Meg Healy took 10th.
Sustaining Dominance through the 2016 Season
Rhodes followed its initial title with an undefeated 7-0 regular season against NCAA Division III competition during the 2015-2016 campaign, climbing to No. 1 in both the Women’s Golf Coaches Association and Golfstat rankings, news.rhodes.edu reported. The team secured its third straight Southern Athletic Association Championship after winning three fall tournaments and the Callaway Invitational in the spring.
During the spring break stretch, alumnus RJ Harper ’78 hosted the team at Pebble Beach. At the subsequent NCAA tournament utilizing Sam Kern as coach on the course, Rhodes shot a record-breaking second-round score of 294, powered by even-par rounds of 72 from Sarahanne Vaughan and Emily Salamy. A severe thunderstorm forced the cancellation of the final nine holes with Rhodes holding a 16-shot lead, sealing their second national title in three years, according to news.rhodes.edu. Mackenzie Cohen finished third individually, while Vaughan placed fifth, and both Cohen and Healy earned First Team WGCA All-American honors.
Securing a Third Title via Historic Comeback
Entering the 2017 tournament as the No. 3 seed, Rhodes relied on support that included a trip to Augusta National hosted by Dr. Bob Waller and facilitated by Lee and Joe Duncan and John Dobbs, news.rhodes.edu reported. Sam Kern returned as coach on the course as Emily Salamy posted a second-round score of four-under 68 and Nikki Isaacson added a one-under 71.
After falling seven strokes behind the leader after nine holes of the final round, the Lynx mounted a comeback in windy conditions to win the national championship by two strokes, according to news.rhodes.edu. Isaacson finished as the individual national runner-up.
Established in 1996, the Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame will also induct Dan Anderson ’76, Phil Mischke ’79, Brian McCarthy ’03, Corletra Mance ’05, Taylor Stephens Ames ’12, and team physician Dr. Robert Miller during the November ceremony.