Women's Golf | 10/21/2021 5:53:00 AM
ROLAND, Ark. – North Carolina A&T women's golfer Christyn Carr (SR, Atlanta, Ga.) made history at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup played on the par-72, 6,311-yard Alotian Club golf course on Wednesday. The American Junior Golf Association invited Carr and A&T men's golfer Xavier Williams to the prestigious tournament.
Carr and Williams were two of six players from historically black colleges or universities (HBCUs) invited to the tournament that included players from Notre Dame, Alabama, Arizona and Florida State, among other Power Fives.
Carr set a course record by becoming the first collegiate player to shoot a score below 70 on the course by shooting a 3-under 69. She also set a school record for the lowest round ever with her 69.
Two bogeys over her first seven holes had Carr at 2-over heading to the par-5, 525-yard eighth. Carr birdied the hole as she made the turn at 1-over. She then became strong midway through the back nine. She moved to even par on the par-5, 433-yard 14th with a birdie.
Carr closed the tournament by birdieing her last three holes, starting with the par-3, 183-yard 16th. She then moved to par-5, 488-yard No. 17, where she birdied her third par-5 of the round. Then, finally, she took down the par-4, 396-yard 18th to finish her historic round.
"Christyn is a dedicated student-athlete who works as hard on her golf game as hard as she works on her books," said A&T coach Richard Watkins about Carr, who has the nursing school's highest grade point average. "Her round was amazing but not surprising. You don't become a quality player like she is without putting in the work."
Watkins added that when he saw Carr play at the Wyndham Pro-Am this past summer, he knew this could be a special year for his top women's golfer.
"She was just hitting the ball so well with so much confidence," Watkins said. "The things that Christyn can do on a golf course are exciting and exceptional but not surprising to me."
Carr finished the tournament in 30th place after shooting an 18-over 234 in three rounds.
She shot an 84 and 81 in rounds one and two, respectively.
Williams shot a three-round 9-over 243 on the par-72, 7,450-yard course for the men. His best round was a 5-over 77 in the second round.
"Xavier told me it was the longest, toughest course he has ever played on," said Watkins.
The Aggie men are in action this week, Oct. 23-24, at the UNCG Grandover Collegiate hosted by UNC Greensboro at the Grandover Resort & Conference Center.
A&T's women return to action Oct. 26-27 at the UMES Collegiate Golf Championship in Princess Anne, Md.
