Northwest Mississippi Women’s Golf Finishes Fourth at Lady Ranger Invitational
The Northwest Mississippi Community College women’s golf team finished fourth at the Lady Ranger Invitational held at Tunica National Golf Club. The tournament featured eight teams from last year’s NJCAA Division II National Tournament, including defending national champions, according to school officials.
The Rangers posted a total score of 127 over 54 holes, making them the top Mississippi team in the field. They finished 14 strokes ahead of Northeast Mississippi Community College and 78 strokes ahead of Pearl River Community College’s first team. Despite their strong showing, freshman Rylee Summerlin said the team felt it left some opportunities on the course.
Northwest made a notable push on the final day, recording their best round of the tournament with a team score of 38-over par. Head coach Adam Payne commended his team, which included five freshmen, for their resilience and competitiveness. “To be able to compete with some of the best teams in the country with five freshmen, I thought we played really well,” Payne said.
Elsa Lomas Castillo led the team individually, finishing sixth overall with a total score of 22-over par after shooting an 81 on the final day. She experienced a challenging stretch late in the round but managed three birdies. Castillo, a freshman from Mexico, credited her recent tournaments for building her confidence and emphasized staying present during each shot.
Summerlin had the best day for the Rangers, shooting an 80, matching her opening round score. Her consistent play moved her into a tie for ninth place overall. She reflected on the mental aspect of golf, noting, “You have to have confidence, because golf is a lot more mental than physical, and your mental game can really make or break you.”
Avery Baker improved her score on Tuesday with an 82, her best round of the tournament, and finished tied for 24th overall. Elizabeth Kilpatrick also posted her best round, an 83, moving into 21st place after rounds of 88 and 85. Graysa Enders closed out the scoring for Northwest with an 86, improving from a 10-over first nine.
Additionally, sophomore Evalynn Ward competed as an individual and finished 57th, posting her best score of the event with a 109 on the final day. Coach Payne praised his team’s attitude, saying, “The big positive I saw is they have a little fight and a little grit to them. Their attitudes were great today, and we have a group that wants to learn and won’t give up.”
Northwest has a week off before returning to competition September 28-29 at the South District Preview at Cider Ridge Golf Course in Oxford, Alabama. This will be the final tournament before the first NJCAA golf rankings of the season are released. Fans can follow the team’s news and schedules at nwccrangers.com or via the school’s social media channels.
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