University of Louisville
Fall Kickoff
Mitchell Earns Individual Title, Paces Women’s Golf at Season Opener
September 08, 2015 | Women's Golf
Katie Mitchell shot a career-low 6-under-par 66 in the first round en route to the win.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Most golfers hit their stride during the middle to end of their season, not in a season-opening match.
Katie Mitchell might be an anomaly. The senior stole the show, opening the Louisville women's golf season with an impressive individual victory on Tuesday at the Fall Kickoff in Johns Creek, Ga. The senior shot a 6-under-par 138 on The Highlands Course at the Atlanta Athletic Club, beating Georgia's Harang Lee by one stroke with a par on the final hole of the day.
The course is well-known in the state, earning a top-five ranking in 2013-14 for best in the state by Golf Digest. It's played home to multiple PGA Championships, including one in 2011.
Mitchell, who locked up her second career victory in two seasons at Louisville, put together a career-best 6-under-par 66 in the first round. She started her day with a birdie on No. 2 and then strung together three more birdies to finish the front nine. She added three more birdies on the back, offsetting two bogeys, to head into the second round with the lead.
The Jacksonville, Fla., native, who had both parents on hand, led the field with 10 birdies on the day and the best averages on par-3 and par-5 holes. Mitchell outlasted hometown favorite Bailey Tardy and then beat Georgia's with the help of two more birdies through the front nine.
Mitchell wasn't Louisville's only student-athlete to deliver a strong performance.
Freshman Jacqueline Twitty, making her collegiate debut, helped the Louisville A team take second in the team standings. The Chapin, S.C., native, shot a 7-over-par 151 to finish tied for ninth. Fellow freshman Olivia Cason, an Owensboro native that finished tied for 13th, helped the cause with an even-par 72 that featured four birdies in the second round.
The Cardinals' youth stood out on its other team as well. Along with junior Louise Oxner, freshman Ellen Kehoe shot an 11-over-par 155 to tie for 15th.
The Cardinals return to action Sept. 18-20 at the Mason Rudolph Championship in Franklin, Tenn. The event, which is hosted by Vanderbilt, will be held at the Vanderbilt Legends Club.
For the latest information on Louisville women's golf, log on to GoCards.com, or, for up-to-the-minute updates, follow the team's Twitter account at www.twitter.com/UofLWGolf or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LouisvilleWomensGolf.
TEAM STANDINGS
1. Georgia – 292-284; 2. Louisville A – 298-293; 3. Tennessee – 298-296; 4. Louisville B – 315-310; 5. Georgia B – 325-307; 6. Georgia State – 327-320
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS
1. Katie Mitchell – 66-72; t-9. Jacqueline Twitty – 75-76; t-13. Laura Restrepo – 75-79; t-13. Olivia Cason – 82-72; t-15. Louise Oxner – 79-76; t-15. Ellen Kehoe – 76-79; t-15. Molly Skapik – 82-73; t-19. Lexie Long – 81-76; t-21. Shannon Gramley – 79-79; 31. Meredith Moir – 90-82
Players Mentioned
