Kiawah Island, S.C. – The Towson women's golf team will open up its spring 2021 season at the Kiawah Island Classic.
The 41-school event is hosted by the College of Charleston from Sunday, Feb. 28 through Tuesday, March 2 at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort on Kiawah Island, S.C.
The 54-hole contest will be spread out between two courses, Cougar Point and Oak Point.
COURSE INFORMATION
Cougar Point – Kiawah Island Golf Resort – Kiawah Island, S.C. – Par 72 – 5,991 yards
Oak Point – Kiawah Island Golf Resort – Kiawah Island, S.C. – Par 72 – 5,958 yards
THE FIELD
Towson will be joined by 40 other participating programs including Alabama State, Austin Peay, Boston College, Butler, The Citadel, Dallas Baptist, Dayton, Delaware State, Detroit Mercy, Eastern Michigan, ETSU, Indiana State, Jacksonville State, IUPUI, Lipscomb, Longwood, Missouri State, Morehead State, Murray State, North Alabama, Northern Illinois, Oakland, Oral Roberts, Presbyterian, Radford, Samford, Stetson, Tennessee Tech, UNC Asheville, UNCG, USC Upstate, UT Arlington, Western Carolina, Wofford and Youngstown State.
The Tigers will also be up against CAA (Colonial Athletic Association) foes Charleston, Delaware, Elon, James Madison and William & Mary.
THE TIGERS' LINEUP
1. Jordan Cornelius
2. Julia Calomiris
3. Jayla Kang
4. Madison Barber
5. Faith McIlvain
TEE TIMES AND FORMAT
Sunday, February 28 – First Round – Tee Times off the No. 1 on each course from 7:30 a.m. – 12:54 p.m.
Monday, March 1 – Second Round – Tee Times off the No. 1 on each course from 7:30 a.m. – 12:54 p.m.
Tuesday, March 2 – Final Round – Top 19 teams at Cougar Point – Tee Times off the No. 1 from 7:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Teams 20-41 at Oak Point – Tee Times off the No. 1 and No. 10 from 7:20 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
The Tigers will play both their practice round and first round of competition at Oak Point on Sunday before playing the second round at Cougar Point on Monday.
TOURNAMENT NOTES
Tabbed as the largest collegiate golf tournament in the country, the 2021 edition of the Kiawah Island Classic will field 41 teams and will be played at two courses – Cougar Point and Oak Point – at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort on Feb. 28 through March 2 on Kiawah Island, S.C. After 36 holes of play, the Top 19 teams will play for the championship at Cougar Point during the final round, while teams 20-41 will play for a flight championship at Oak Point. Last year, host College of Charleston won the team title with a 54-hole total of 860 (-4) in the 53-team tournament field. It marked the 30th career victory for Head Coach Jamie Futrell, who is currently in his 25th season with the Cougars and ranks 14th all-time among active NCAA Division I women's golf coaches in career victories. Florida Gulf Coast was runner-up (+2) followed by third-place Boston University (+7). Emily Dunlap of College of Charleston claimed her first collegiate tournament win and co-medalist honors with a three-round score of 209 (-7) along with Maia Samuelsson of Jacksonville. Austin Peay won the Flight Championship (27-53) at Oak Point, while Ellen Hume of Charleston Southern was the individual medalist at Oak Point.
LAST TIME AT KIAWAH ISLAND CLASSIC
Junior Jordan Cornelius led the team in the 2020 Kiawah Island Classic, shooting five-over 77 to finish the three-round tournament as the Tiger with the lowest score. She finished tied for 84th overall after a tournament score of 227 (+11). Juniors Julia Calomiris and Jayla Kang each shot three-over 75 to help Towson shoot a final round 305. Calomiris finished with 15 pars and Kang ended with a team-best three birdies. Competing as an individual, Emma Cox finished the tournament by shooting an 82 and finishing eighth overall with a three-total score of 244. Towson 36th of 53 schools. The host team of Charleston won the tournament by six strokes over Florida Gulf Coast.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Towson women's golf is returning four of its five top golfers for the 2021 spring season. Cornelius leads the 2019-20 squad with a 75.2 average over 17 rounds. Calomiris is close behind with an average of 76.9 over 17 rounds. In Sept. 2019, Towson had its best finish of the season, placing 3rd overall out of nine teams at the Bucknell Invitational.
