There have been many times this year when the Anderson Trojans have played better than even they believed possible.

At the NCAA Division II Regional at Chattahoochee Golf Club in Gainesville, Georgia, the Trojans experienced the opposite.

They played worse than they thought they could.

“It was a shock,” said Anderson’s Director of Golf and Women’s Coach, Denton Moore. “We didn’t just play badly—we played really badly—and I don’t know where it came from.”

The Trojans spent most of the season ranked as the top NCAA DII team in the country.

Anderson came into the regional prepared, ready to compete, and aiming to advance to the national finals.

At dinner after the first round—following a 14-over-par total—the players were quiet. Moore noticed many blank expressions.

Anderson was 12 shots off the lead and in danger of missing one of the four qualifying spots for the national championship.

“It might sound a little corny, but we talked about the rest of the tournament. We had to play each hole like it was a match if we were going to climb back into contention,” said Moore.

The team regrouped after the first-round disaster and improved. They shot a 7-over-par round but didn’t gain much ground.

Moore believed they could still earn one of the automatic qualifying spots, but the road wasn’t easy.

“We came out and played better and got into good position by the turn, but then on the next few holes, we gave it all back,” said Moore.

The team went 4-over-par on the next three holes, and what had looked difficult now seemed nearly impossible.

“We were down 10 shots with six holes to go,” Moore said.

Then the Trojans turned it on. On the very challenging finishing holes, Anderson went 4-under-par.

None of the other teams competing for a qualifying spot outperformed them—and a few helped Anderson by faltering down the stretch.

Kennedy McGaha made three birdies on the back nine, while Ally Francis capped off a 3-under-par 69. The rest of the team filled in the gaps, helping the Trojans shoot the best final round and climb from ninth to third place.

“We might have gotten a little help, but it was the way our team played the final holes that made the difference. When we needed it, they played like the top-ranked team and kept our season alive,” said Moore.

Now the Trojans are off to the national championship in Las Vegas. Moore plans to take the team out early, right after the team’s two seniors graduate.

Kennedy McGaha and Zoey Iglesias will finish their college careers at Boulder Creek Golf Club near Las Vegas.

“We’ll find someplace to chip and putt, but we’re also going to enjoy some of Las Vegas. The team needs time to relax and loosen up before the tournament starts,” said Moore.

The teams and qualifying individuals will play three days of stroke play before beginning the final rounds using the medal match play format.

“This group refuses to give up, and they never gave in. This crew is so special—I love this team,” concluded Moore.

In the same regional, Claudia Hastings from Limestone finished as the regional medalist.

Ironically, Hastings won the regional to advance to the national championships just as Limestone University announced it will be closing.

Hastings, from Liverpool, England, had entered the NCAA Transfer Portal before the regional and will join the Anderson program for her sophomore year.