ELGIN, S.C. --- Tusculum junior Ciara Rattana finished 62nd at the 2017 NCAA Division II South Super Region Women's Golf Championship Wednesday, marking the final event for long-time Pioneer head coach Bob Dibble as well. The three-day, 54-hole event was held at The Members Club at Woodcreek and hosted by Newberry College.
Rattana, a native of Western Springs, Illinois, posted a three-round total of 249, including Wednesday's final round 83. The three-time All-South Atlantic Conference first team choice started her round on No. 10 and posted a seven-over par 43 on her opening nine, which included a birdie on the 16th hole. She was four-over par on her inward nine after five holes, but finished strong with four consecutive pars.
Kiira Riihijarvi of Tampa captured medalist honors with her three-day score of 220 (+4) including a final round 70 (-2) to qualify for the NCAA National Championship to be held later this month in Findlay, Ohio. Also moving onto the nationals are Florida Tech's Brittany LaPadula (222, +6) and Marie Coors of Saint Leo (223, +7), who finished second and third, respectively.
Barry won the team title with a score 918, five shots ahead of runner-up Rollins as both teams qualify to move onto Ohio and the national championship. Nova Southeastern and Lee University tied for the third and final spot for nationals finishing with scores of 928. Nova and Lee would go to a playoff for the remaining bid for a trip to the DII nationals.
Rattana wraps up an outstanding junior campaign where she finished with a 77.27 stroke average, which is the third-lowest by a Pioneer in a single-season. Her 26 rounds this year are the second-most played by a Tusculum women's golfer. She moves her career scoring average to 78.02, which is currently the second lowest in program history.
For Dibble, Wednesday's round ends a remarkable 28-year career as golf coach at Tennessee's most historic college. Dibble started the women's team 20 years ago, which has grown into one of the most competitive and respective program's in the country.
He led the Tusculum women to 21 tournament titles, including two South Atlantic Conference championships and a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2012. Rattana was the third TC women's golfer to earn a berth to the NCAA Regional as an individual competitor.
Dibble also coached the Tusculum men's program to a remarkable 44 team tournament wins during his storied career. A member of the Tennessee PGA and Tusculum Sports Hall of Fames, Dibble will be inducted to the South Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame on June 1st in Greenville, South Carolina.
