FLOWOOD, Miss. – Bethune-Cookman Women's Golf is set for the 2023 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championships taking place April 17-19, at The Refuge Golf Course in Flowood, Mississippi. The three day-event annual event begins Monday, April 17, with BCU teeing off at 8:50 a.m.
 
The tournament shall be determined based on fifty-four (54) holes, unless weather interrupts the schedule, in which case thirty-six (36) holes shall constitute the minimum number of holes determining a champion.

Should the final round be started but cannot be completed by all teams, the scores following 36 holes shall be used to determine the champion.

On the men's and women's side, Texas Southern will look to repeat and claim championship titles in consecutive seasons. Live scoring for the event will be available at the link above. 
 
ABOUT THE COURSE
The Refuge is an 18-hole golf course originally designed by Roy Case and quickly gained acclaim as one of the top public golf courses in the state. The Refuge's inherent beauty lies in its setting. Literally carved from 200 acres of wetlands, more than 500,000 cubic yards of dirt were moved to create lakes, creeks, and one of the best public courses in the region. Generous tees, rolling hills, and welcoming fairways culminate at gently rolling greens featuring some of the smoothest and truest putting surfaces around.
 
The Refuge Golf Course was renovated under the direction of golf course architect Nathan Crace, ASGCA of Watermark Golf and reopened in the spring of 2021.The newly renovated course provides a more playable layout with three new holes and returning nines. It also includes new TifEagle hybrid bermudagrass greens, new and renovated bunkers, and upgrades to the course's irrigation. The course also features the Longleaf Tee System from the American Society of Golf Course Architects Foundation. This system strategically expands existing tee complexes, and increases course playability and golfer enjoyment for golfers of all skill sets. Since the course reopened it has garnered rave reviews. It was named "Runner-Up" in the "2021 Renovation of the Year" by Golf Inc. magazine and named to the Golfer's Choice 2023: Best golf courses in Mississippi by Golf Pass.
 
For the SWAC Women's Golf Championships, The Refuge plays as a par 72, with a yardage of 6,327 altogether.
 
Each day's round will begin at 8 a.m., with daily results posted to GolfStat.com.
 
WILDCATS IN THE FIELD
1. Skylar Kew (Fr.) – Dundas, Ontario (Canada)
2. Kyleigh Leaf (R-Jr.) – Brownsburg, Ind.
3. Kamary Leaf (Soph.) – Brownsburg, Ind.
4. Emma Hastie (Sr.) – Buffalo, N.Y.
5. Jordan Davis (Fr.) – St. Petersburg, Fla.
 
QUOTES FROM STOKES
"I tell you what – we really had a solid practice round on Sunday. The girls were locked in, focused, and everyone was really hitting some good shots. I think they are eager to get out there and see what they can do, especially the players from last year's team that competed in this same event."
 
"I want to see them improve from the performance we had last season. I know there are some good scores in each of them, and I want them to showcase that this week. If we do that, then I'll be a very happy coach. I just want them to compete the way I know they can compete, and make themselves proud in the process."
 
"The SWAC has some great teams. I know it's going to take some time to compete at the level Texas Southern and Prairie View and Alabama State are at. But, I think we are on the right path. And this week is going to show us exactly how far we've come as a team and program from 12 months ago."
 
LAST TIME OUT FOR BCU
Bethune-Cookman ended play at this year's Babs Steffens Invitational, with Kyleigh Leaf serving as the top scorer for the Wildcats in the two-day, 54-hole event which took place at DeBary Golf and Country Club.
 
Kyleigh Leaf, a redshirt junior from Brownsburg, Indiana, turned in an opening day, 36-hole scorecard of 168 – including an opening round five-over par 77 to lead all Bethune-Cookman scorers. She also led the Maroon and Gold the following day, turning in a card of 82 to finish at 250 (+34) and tied for 62nd on the final tournament leaderboard.
 
BCU senior Emma Hastie carded back-to-back rounds of 86, but bounced back to fire a final round score of 84 to record a 256 (+40) two-day total and finish sitting 66th in the field.
 
Sophomore Kamary Leaf opened the tournament with a two-round score of 180 on consecutive rounds of 90, respectfully. She lowered her score by two strokes during the final round to fire an 88, closing the tournament at 268 (+52), placing herself 72nd on the leaderboard.
 
Skylar Kew, a freshman from Dundas, Ontario, opened with a round of 92, only to turn in a second-round card of 84. The Dundas Valley Secondary School alum finished with a final round 95 to place herself 74th on the final leaderboard with a collective score of 271 (+55).
 
The final golfer for the Wildcats was freshman Jordan Davis, who battled through illness to compete for the Maroon and Gold. She was forced to withdraw midway through the first two rounds but finished with a final round 131 on Tuesday.
 
As a team, Bethune-Cookman (345-351-349 = 1045, +181) finished 13th overall in the field.
 
NEXT UP
Bethune-Cookman travels to the PGA Works Intercollegiate Championship (formerly the PGA Minority College Championships – an event the Wildcats used to dominate throughout the mid-to-late 2000's and early-2010's. The event takes place May 8-10, in Birmingham, Alabama.
 
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