FORSYTH, Ga. — The High Point University women's golf team wrapped up its record-breaking fall season with a fourth-place finish at the Mercer Invitational Tuesday afternoon.

Site: Forsyth, Ga.
Course: River Forest Golf Club
Par/Yardage: 72/6040

HPU Top Finisher: Ella Perna (T9) — 73, 77, 68 (218) +2
HPU Team Finish: T4 of 14 teams —297, 293, 298 (888) +24

HPU Head Coach Lyndsey Hunnell: "I've learned a lot about our team this semester and I'm excited to take all of this knowledge and get to work this offseason. As a golf coach, it's always great to see different players in the lineup step up each round rather than depending on the same four. Each one of them has grown so much this semester with their games and confidence. The best is yet to come."  

High Point saw many different leaders over the course of the tournament. Ella Perna and Maddie Hensley both shot the lowest for HPU round in the first, carding 1-over before Danielle Suh stepped up to score low in the second. After a up-and-down second round, Perna finished off her fall season with a collegiate low round of 4-under 68 to place T9. The sophomore has seen huge improvement from last year's fall schedule, where she had a scoring average of 76.47 and lowered it to a 73.13 scoring average. 

"Ella is a rock star. She has grown so much as a player, young lady and leader for this team in such a short time here," Hunnell said. "She set big goals for herself this semester and all her work is paying off. I am very proud of her and so excited to see what she will do next."

Hensley and Suh both secured a T21 finish, carding 6-over. Hensley stayed consistent over the course of the tournament, carding a 73, 74, and 75. Suh shot a pair of 76s with a 2-under 70 sandwiched in between to assist her to a 222 total. Suh also saw improvement from last fall, where she carded a 77.33 scoring average. This season, Suh wrapped up her final fall schedule with a 75.20 scoring average.

Anna Howerton carded a pair of 79s in the first and third rounds, while using an even second round to secure a T43 finish. Rounding out the lineup for the Panthers was transfer student Julia McLaughlin. McLaughlin scored a 241 total to place T66 for High Point. 

Panther Placement:
T9 Ella Perna +2 (73, 77, 68)
T21 Maddie Hensley +6 (73, 74, 75)
T21 Danielle Suh +6 (76, 70, 76)
T43 Anna Howerton +14 (79, 72, 79)
T66 Julia McLaughlin +25 (75, 82, 84)

Up Next: High Point stays close to home for the Battle of the Triad, hosted by UNCG in late January in open the spring schedule.