Playing college sports often times means missing events with family or special occasions with friends.

The USC Upstate team was in Jacksonville for the Sea Best Intercollegiate and had played a little below expectations in the first two rounds.

“We needed a pick up to kind of lift our attitude,” said Upstate coach Todd Lawton. “I thought some flowers and chocolates for Valentines Day could improve our mood, so each players got a Valentine gift before the third round,” he said.

The Spartans attitude improved and so did their play.

The average first two rounds eliminated the chance for a win, but a third round rally saw each of the Spartans shoot their best round of the tournament.

The Spartans carded the second best round of the event to move up to sixth place from ninth and two Spartans were in contention for the individual win.

Pabsimma shot a 2-under par 70 to stay near the lead, but Nontarux played to her average.

The Upstate junior was playing mistake free golf. She didn’t have a bogey on her score card.

“She was playing so good I asked her what was she thinking. She told me she didn’t have time to think because the ball was always going in the hole,” Lawton recalled.

The final round shotgun start did not allow for head to head play among the leaders. Nontarux started on the eighth hole.

When she got to number 5 on the course and 17 on her scorecard, she needed a strong finish to catch Isabella Hahne from Cincinnati.

Nontarux eagled her 17th hole with driver, three wood and a 12 foot putt on the 500 yard par-5 hole.

She followed up the eagle with a birdie on her final hole. She ended with the best round of the tournament at 5-under par 67.

“I just wanted to do my best for our team,” said Nontarux. “At first I was so nervous a lot, I didn’t play good. Coach (Lawton) came to me and stopped me from over thinking just in time,” she said.

Nontarux finished as co-medalist with Hehne. It was her second college victory.

“It was so amazing to win the first tournament of this semester. I am so happy and still its unbelievable that I won.,” she said.

Pabsimma finished third, one shot behind the co-medalists. Upstate’s Suwarin Yordin was fifth.

Campbell held on for the team win finishing 3-shots in front of Florida International.

Sarah Boteler tied for 12th and helped Presbyterian finish in 11th while Wofford tied for 8th.

Scores from the Seabest Intercollegiet in Jacksonville https://results.golfstat.com/public/leaderboards/gsnav.cfm?pg=team&tid=26529

The Lander Bearcats gave second ranked Lynn a good run for the top spot at the Spring Kick Off Intercollegiate hosted by Lincoln Memorial in St Augustine, Florida.

The Bearcats took the lead over several highly ranked teams in the first round.

Lander shot an opening round 288, which turned out to be the best round of the tournament.

Lander fell back in the second round, but held off Limestone to finish second, nine shots behind Lynn.

Landers’ Sakurako Tanaka and Kajsa Lindqvist were joined by teammate Gracy McCoy who all finished in the top-10.

Lynn’s Maria Hoyos finshed at 1-over par while the Saints’ Maria Morales and Lynn’s Camila Madariaga teid for second place.

Converse carded their best round of the tournament on the last day to move up to eighth place.

The Valkryies Helen Noel earned a top-ten finish after posting a final round 1-under par 71.

Scores from the Women’s Spring Kick Off Intercollegiate https://birdiefire.com/tournament/152599/