Mill Springs, N.C. – The host Gardner-Webb's women's golf team opened its 2024 spring season by capturing the Bright's Creek Intercollegiate.

The two-day event (Saturday 2/24 & Sunday 2/25) was played on the 19-hole Tom Fazio-designed golf course - ranked #37 by Golf Digest  - nestled in the mountains of Western North Carolina.

Gardner-Webb junior Neza Siftar (Ljubljana, Slovenia) was the top performer with a 54-hole total of 225 (+9) to finish on top of the individual leader board out of 24 competitors.

Following Siftar in the Top 5 on the leader board for the Runnin' Bulldogs was junior Kayla Dowell (Mebane, N.C.), who shot a 240 (+24) to finish in 5^th place.

Gardner-Webb sophomore Georgia Barr (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) finished 7^th overall with a total of 244 (+28).

Freshman Julia Buchgeher (Linz, Austria) 247 (+31/11^th), sophomore Katelyn Griggs (Lexington, N.C.) 251 (+35/13^th) and Vileska Gelpi (Rockwood, Pa.) 256 (+40/18^th) were also in the Runnin' Bulldogs lineup.

"It was another great win for Neza," said Gardner-Webb golf coach Tee Burton. "She has continued to play very well throughout the year. I was very proud of the entire group!"

Gardner-Webb (+87) took the team title ahead of Presbyterian College (+101) and North Carolina A&T (+101) who finished in a tie for second place. The University of Southern Indiana (+176) finished in fourth place.

"Today was a great round for us after a very tough weather day on Saturday," said Burton. "If we can put together these kinds of rounds consistently, we have an opportunity to be a very good team."

Up Next: Gardner-Webb will compete at the Low Country Intercollegiate on Friday March 15 through Sunday March 17, 2024, at the Moss Creek Golf Club, hosted by Wofford, on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Par 72/6,009 yards.