MCCORMICK, S.C. – The University of North Georgia women's golf team rode momentum from a strong finish on Monday to a convincing second-place finish in the Savannah Lakes Fall Invitational Tuesday morning. The Nighthawks combined to shoot 18-over-par and finished just seven shots behind Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) No. 12 Lee. 

The 18-over and 882-stroke scorecard sets a new 54-hole team scoring record for UNG, beating the previous record of 20-over set during the LeeAnn Noble Memorial back in 2021. 

The Nighthawks were bolstered by a three-over-par final round as a pair of golfers finished in the top-10 on the individual leaderboard. 

Freshman Ellie Jane Riner led the way with a final round 72 to finish the event in a three-way tie for fifth place. In just two tournaments, Riner has proven herself as a valuable addition to head coach Sierra Campbell's team. The rookie has not shot worse than 77 which came in the first round of her collegiate career. 

On Tuesday, Riner was stellar yet again. She made pars on every hole on the front nine before suffering her first and only bogey of the day at the par-4 10th hole. So what did Riner do in response? Did she compound her mistake? Did she let it throw her off rhythm from what was a fantastic front nine? Nope. She birdied the par-5 11th. Riner finished her second career event at three-over and T-5, resulting in a Savannah Lakes Fall Invitational All-Tournament Team selection.

Riner has clearly been instilled already with the same bounce back mentality that the rest of her teammates possess and have put on display early this season. 

Such other teammates that possess this ability might include senior Jadin Ware. 

Last week, Ware was left off the lineup for UNG's season-opening tournament. She still competed as an individual and was just five-over after 36 holes before a frustrating 11-over 83 on the final day. This week, she qualified for the Savannah Lakes Invitational and did not disappoint Campbell in the lineup. 

In round one, Ware went five-over. She shaved four strokes off that with a one-over 73 in round two. On Tuesday, she tore up the course with four birdies to finish with a one-under 71, carding just the fourth sub-par round of the season thus far for UNG. Ware finished at five-over and T-10 for the event. 

Sophomore Abby Franks followed closely behind. She too elected to choose the final round as her best of the tournament, carding one birdie and one bogey to finish with an even 72. Franks finished T-14 overall at six-over. 

With a 78 on the last day, junior Cora Mount ended her second tournament as a Nighthawk 10-over and T-22 while senior Elliie Rippee was just behind at 11-over and in 27th place. Senior Lainey Panter, competing as an individual, also scored well with a final round 74 to finish at 10-over and T-22 with her teammate Mount and three other competitors. 

This was a very big week for the UNG women's golf program. It proved this team has an innate ability to turn it on under difficult circumstances. Last week they beat the rain, this week they went toe-to-toe with a top-15 team in the country while beating out two other nationally ranked opponents. Make no mistake, second place is not the goal, says Campbell. But this was another stepping stone for the future. 

"[I'm] so proud of this team for their ability to always fight back. After a rough start yesterday they put their heads down, fought through adversity and climbed their way back up the leaderboard," said Campbell. "Although we would have loved to have taken the big trophy home, we know that we are using these moments and successes as building blocks to all of the success that is left to come this season."