CONOVER, N.C. --- The Tusculum College women's golf team will open play in the South Atlantic Conference Championship on Monday at the Rock Barn Golf Club & Spa. The two-day, 54-hole tournament begins with the first two rounds on Monday, followed by the final 18 holes on Tuesday.

Tusculum, under the direction of 2012 SAC Coach of the Year Bob Dibble, will be vying for its third South Atlantic Conference title and first in 11 seasons.

Dibble has led the 23rd-ranked Pioneers to two team tournament titles, while Tusculum has finished fifth or better in eight of its nine tournaments this year. TC won the Anderson Invitational and followed by winning the McAmis Memorial. In the McAmis, Tusculum won by shooting a school, tournament and SAC record 593, including a TC, tournament and league record 291 in the opening round.

As a team, Tusculum is fourth in the nation in subpar strokes per round (1.63), seventh in par 5 scoring (5.26), nine in birdies (128), 19th in team scoring average (79.74), 19th in par 4 scoring (4.51) and 20th in score versus par (+7.74).

Leading the charge for the Pioneers is 2012 SAC Freshman of the Year Emee Herbert. The Johns Creek, Ga. native boasts the second-lowest stroke average in the league at 77.1, which is on pace to be a new school single-season mark. The All-SAC First Team honoree has finished in the top 20 in eight of TC's nine tournaments this year, including six in the top-10 and three top-five performances.

Herbert finished runner-up in her inaugural collegiate event at the Anderson Invitational this past September. The Greater Atlanta Christian School graduate also tied for third at the Flagler Fall Slam and finished sixth at the Patsy Rendleman Invitational. She finished the regular season with back-to-back seventh place performances at the Hargett Memorial and the Agnes McAmis Memorial, where she posted a season-low 72-77=149, the fifth lowest 36-hole score in school history.

Jillian Corum, a Knoxville, Tenn. junior, is second on the team and third in the league with her 77.6 stroke average, which is third lowest in the SAC and second lowest in TC single-season history. The Fulton High School graduate garnered All-SAC First Team accolades and has accounted for seven top 20 performances, including five in the top 10. Corum posted a three-under par 70-71=141 to capture medalist honors at the McAmis Memorial at Link Hills Country Club, earning her fourth career victory. Her 141 was also new 36-hole record at Tusculum.

Corum is averaging 4.92 strokes on par 5 holes this season, which is the lowest average in the country. She is also 10th in nation in subpar strokes per round (2.19) and 18th in birdies (33). Her career 80.47 stroke average is currently the lowest in Pioneer history.

In last year's SAC Championship at Rock Barn, Corum shot 83-75-81=239 to finish seventh, while earning a spot on the SAC All-Tournament Team.

Senior Aly Pugh is third on the squad with her 81.0 stroke average. The Harrisburg, Pa. (Susquehana Township HS) native has posted four top-20 outings, including two in the top 10 as well as medalist honors at the Anderson Invitational, carding 74-76=150. She matched that 150 at the McAmis Memorial, carding rounds of 73-77 to finish ninth. She finished 25th at last year's SAC Championship with 86-83-81=250 at Rock Barn.

Sophomore Sarah Howard is fourth on the squad with her 81.4 scoring average. The Knoxville, Tenn. native tallied three top-20 performances, including a 12th place finish at the Tusculum Fall Classic and 18th at the McAmis Memorial. The South Doyle High School graduate tied for 25th place at last year's league championship (86-84-80=250).

Senior Katie Doane will be competing in her final SAC Championship this week. The Sevierville, Tenn. product is averaging 81.6 strokes per round with four top-20 finishes, including a season-best eighth place showing at the Anderson Invitational. Doane finished 27th at the 2010 SAC Championship.

Freshman Alec Cunningham (Knoxville, Tenn./Catholic HS) will be competing as an individual competitor this week at Rock Barn. It will be her sixth tournament of the year, where she has posted two finishes in the top 30. She finished 28th at the Tusculum/Kiawah Island Intercollegiate and 29th at the Tusculum Fall Classic.

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