Ole Miss Women’s Golf to Host Rebel Intercollegiate

Photo courtesy Ole Miss Athletics

The Ole Miss women’s golf team, coming off its most successful outing of the 2014-15 season with a win at the Samford Intercollegiate, returns home this weekend for the 2015 Rebel Intercollegiate at the Ole Miss Golf Course.

Ole Miss picked up its first tournament title of the season at the Samford Intercollegiate played at the Hoover Country Club in Hoover, Alabama March 23-24. The Rebels posted a three-round total of 907 to finish atop the leaderboard for the first time since 2008.

It was also a good week for senior Stani Schiavone (Bangor, Pa.) as she earned medalist honors after posting a three-round score of 215 highlighted by a career-low round of 7-under par 65 in the final round.

Additionally, Schiavone was honored as the women’s Scholar Athlete of the Year at the 5th Annual Rebels’ Choice Awards and earned SEC Player of the Week honors for her play at the Samford Intercollegiate.

“We are growing as a team, and I am so proud of them for stepping up and understanding the process of preparing and how to let go and play,” head coach Michele Drinkard said. “We are looking to carry our momentum into the weekend and to focus on the areas that matter.”

“The team had a great session with Dr. (Josie) Nicholson voicing out what we take from our win at Samford and what each player will leave behind from the win,” Drinkard added. “It was probably one of the best exercises we’ve been through and I’m looking forward to seeing how we can let go of expectations and play in that moment, one shot at a time.”

GRU Augusta won the 2014 Rebel Intercollegiate with a three-round score of 871 (286-295-290—896) and the Jaguars’ Jessica Haigwood claimed medalist honors after carding a 6-under par 210 (71-70-69—210).

The seventh annual Rebel Intercollegiate is a three-day tournament that will tee off on Friday morning at the Ole Miss Golf Course. The field will features golfers from Alabama State, Clemson, East Tennessee, Fresno State, Furman, Harvard, Kennesaw State, Kent State, Maryland, Memphis, Mercer, Murray State, Southern Miss, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Tulsa.

While there are quite a few teams that are making the trip to Oxford, there will be several newcomers in the field in Alabama State, Clemson, Fresno State, Kent State, and Maryland. Additionally, Drinkard will have some of her teammates in attendance in Tennessee head coach Judi Pavon and Murray State head coach Velvet Milkman, while former Rebel Rachel Ingram will bring her Samford squad to Oxford for the second consecutive season.

This will be the final Rebel Intercollegiate for seniors Taelor Rubin and Stani Schiavone, and both look forward to their final home tournament.

“I can’t wait to go out and play a course I’ve played for four years now, and just enjoy the entire weekend,” Rubin said. “I’ll have a lot of mixed emotions because I’m sad this will be my last Rebel Intercollegiate, but I’m also really excited for what my future holds.”

Schiavone echoed Rubin’s sentiments about this being her final home tournament at Ole Miss.

“I’m looking forward to playing our home tournament one last time,” Schiavone said. “It’s always great to play with the support of family and friends and I’m really excited for it.”

Fans can follow the action with live scoring from BirdieFire throughout the weekend and by using the hash tag #15RebInt. Results and other important tournament links can also be found at the Tournament Central.

For all Ole Miss Women’s Golf news and information, go to OleMissSports.com, and follow the Rebels on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.