DAHLONEGA - The No. 14 University of North Georgia women's golf team climbed into a spot inside the top five of its home tournament, posting a final-round six-under score to finish fourth at the 12^th Annual LeeAnn Noble Memorial on Tuesday at Achasta Golf Club.
 
The Nighthawks completed the 54-hole event with a total score of four-over-par 868 (300-290-278). Their final round of six-under 278 was the best team score recorded across the tournament, vaulting them up the leaderboard to secure fourth in the 16-team field. The field featured seven of the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) top 25 teams nationally including three top-10 teams. Twelve teams in the 16-team field features are receiving votes in the latest poll.
 
Second-ranked Wingate captured the team title with a total score of 15-under-par 849, rallying from eight shots back of fifth-ranked Anderson to win by six.
 
Olivia Pellerin of Anderson claimed the individual championship at 10-under.
 
North Georgia started the week with a collective eight-over 300 in the first round and improved to two-over 290 in the second round, setting the stage for their final round surge.
 
Leading the charge for the Nighthawks was Ellie Jane Riner, who finished in a tie for ninth place overall with a score of two-under-par 214. Riner scored under par over the final two rounds, following up her 73 (+1) in the first round with a 70 (-2) and a 71 (-1) to secure a top-10 finish.
 
Joining Riner in the top 15 was Abby Franks, who finished the tournament at even-par 216 to tie for 13th. Franks bounded back from an opening 74 (+2) with back-to-back one-under 71's in the second and final rounds.
 
The Nighthawks' impressive six-under final round was powered by two key performances. Cora Mount and Claire Bradford both carded scores of two-under 70 on the final day. Mount's 70 (-2) was a nine-stroke improvement from her first-round score and helped her jump 16 spots to finish 50th overall, while Bradford's 70 (-2) was her lowest of the event, contributing significantly to the team's push and seeing her move up 17 spots to finish tied for 53rd.
 
Camryn Wright provided a highlight on the opening day, recording a two-under 70 in the first round. After posting a 73 (+1) in the second round, Wright finished tied for 42nd at eight-over-par 224. Mackenzie Connell, competing as an individual, also posted a strong showing, finishing tied for 21st overall at two-over-par 218.
 
The Nighthawks will wrap up the fall schedule on Oct. 20-21 at the Nemacolin Intercollegiate in Farmington, Pa.