LADY RAIDERS CLIMB TO FIFTH PLACE IN SPRING INVITATIONAL

NIOTA, Tenn. — The Roane State's women's golf team continued its strong season this week, posting a solid second-day improvement to finish fifth at the Tennessee Wesleyan Invitational at Springbrook Golf and Country Club.

Competing Monday and Tuesday, March 30 and 31, against a field of larger NAIA programs, the Lady Raiders turned in rounds of 387 and 367, shaving 20 strokes off their opening score and climbing one spot in the standings.

Head coach Rick Maharry said the performance reflected both steady progress and the team's ability to adjust to difficult course conditions.

"Overall, I was very happy, and we did a very good job in how we played," Maharry said. "The course wasn't in the best shape. The greens were tough and there were a lot of tough pin spots, but they did an excellent job."

Roane State entered Tuesday's final round in sixth place before making a move up the leaderboard with one of the more improved rounds of the tournament.

"They improved 20 strokes from the first day to the second day," Maharry said. "We were in sixth going into the second day, and then we passed a team and ended up finishing fifth."

Sophomore Raegan Corvette led the way for the Lady Raiders, finishing tied for eighth individually. Sydney Romer followed with a tie for 14th, giving Roane State two golfers inside the top 15 in a competitive field.

The tournament also marked an important milestone for a Roane State squad that has battled injuries throughout the early part of the spring season. For the first time in weeks, the Lady Raiders were able to compete with a full lineup, something Maharry said has been key to their recent improvement.

"It feels good competing with the whole team here," he said. "They've been playing better and better for the last three weeks. I think we've improved each time, and it's coming at the right time with postseason coming up."

Roane State's steady progress mirrors trends seen earlier in the season, where second-day improvements have become a consistent theme. That pattern continued in Niota, with the team showing sharper execution and better scoring across the lineup in the final round.

Maharry said individual development remains a focal point as the team prepares for the stretch run.

"Each player has something they need to work on," he said. "For some, it's hitting more accurate tee shots. For others, it's iron play, putting or chipping. We just focus on those things, and you only get better by repetition and getting out there and hitting balls."

The Lady Raiders will have little time to rest, returning to competition later next week at the Northeast Mississippi Invitational. The tournament will provide a clearer benchmark as Roane State prepares for the TCCAA district tournament later this month.

"These performances gives us a good evaluation of how we'll look going into districts," Maharry added. With postseason play approaching, Maharry has set clear expectations for his team's continued growth.

"I'd be very happy to finish around third or fourth in this next tournament," he said. "For districts, we're hoping to finish at least runner-up. Florida Gateway is a tough team, but we're getting better as the spring goes along."

Roane State, ranked 19th nationally after starting the year at No. 23, appears to be trending in the right direction at a critical point in the season.

"I think we're getting better and better," Maharry said. "If we can finish runner-up at districts, that should be enough to get us back to nationals again."