Back with a vengeance: Messer takes second at Alice Lloyd

PRESTONBURG, Ky. - Sidelined for nearly a year after an all-conference sophomore season, Whitney Messer wasted no time getting back to form in her return to the golf course.

The Bulldog senior and Barbourville native placed second in the 36-player field at the two-day Alice Lloyd Invitational on Monday and Tuesday, finishing with a 154 (+10) after recording a score of 77 both days.

Only Renee Crooks of Pikeville came in ahead of Messer, edging her by two strokes. Messer and Pikeville's Lauren Holmes were actually tied for the lead after day one, but Crooks proved too strong with a tournament-best round of 73 on Tuesday.

Regardless, it was a welcome return to high-caliber play for Messer, who was only able to compete in one tournament a season ago.

In 2021, she became the first Union player to earn First-Team All-Appalachian Athletic Conference honors since 2012. Her runner-up finish at Alice Lloyd is the best performance by a Bulldog golfer since Messer herself earned a win at the Tennessee Wesleyan Spring Invitational on April 6, 2021.

She was the only member of the women's team to compete at the Alice Lloyd tournament.

On the men's side, Kedric Chaney was one of two Union golfers to compete, tying for 25th with a two-day score of 157. Yago Torrente-Gomez was 60th with 243.

Union returns to action this weekend, taking part in the Asbury Invitational, to be held at the Kearney Hill Golf Course in Lexington on Friday and Saturday.