C of C women win Pinehurst Challenge golf

PINEHURST, N.C. -- Three Cougars posted top 10 finishes to lead the College of Charleston women's golf team to an eight stroke victory at the Pinehurst Challenge on Tuesday at Pinehurst No. 5.

Western Carolina finished second in the 15-team field with a two-day total of 592. Morehead State carded a 603 for third while Wichita State came in fourth with a 607.

The Cougars finished at 584 (291-293).

Vanessa Koechli led the Cougars with a second-place finish after shooting a 71-74--145. Lucia Fernandez of Jacksonville State was the individual medalist at 144 (70-74). Kathy Boehm tied for third at 146 (70-76), and Cougars teammate Ainhoa Nogales (148) tied for ninth.

Charleston Southern placed 11th (304-625), led by Olivia Jordan-Higgins, who tied for third at 146 (72-74). The Citadel was 14th (330-669).

-- Tim Mitchell fired a career-low 67 in the second round and tied for seventh to lead the College of Charleston men to a tie for 15th at the 18-team Hummingbird Intercollegiate held in Sapphire, N.C.

Furman won the event with a 567 in 36 holes at the Country Club of Sapphire Valley. Mitchell finished at 2-under 140, and the Cougars totaled 591.

College soccer

The College of Charleston's Steven Nagy was named Southern Conference men's soccer player of the week after his two-goal performance in a victory over Wofford.

In a 2-1 win over the SoCon-leading Terriers, the senior midfielder doubled his season total in goals, and he had four of the Cougars' eight shots on the game.

College volleyball

The College of Charleston volleyball team (12-11 overall, 8-3 in SoCon) plays at The Citadel (7-20, 2-8) tonight in a conference match at McAlister Field House. Game time is 7 p.m.

Charleston is 22-0 all-time against The Citadel and has won all 66 sets in the series history. That total includes a 3-0 victory earlier this season at the Carolina First Arena.

--Charleston Southern (15-14) won its fourth straight match, a 3-0 road win over Savannah State (10-19). The Bucs won 25-19, 25-6, 25-18. Cori Holeman led CSU with a match-high 10 kills, two blocks and two service aces. Emily Libertowski had five kills.

PC AD resigning

Presbyterian athletic director Bee Carlton is leaving after six years. College president John Griffith said that Carlton's resignation takes effect Feb. 1.

Carlton will become a professor of systems engineering and operations research at the College of Coastal Georgia in Brunswick, Ga. He'll also serve as senior advisor for athletic planning.

Carlton spent six years heading Blue Hose athletics. Presbyterian associate athletic director Mike Smith will take over the department on an interim basis after Carlton leaves.