Mercer women's golfers playing 'fearlessly'

The Mercer women's golf team took home its first team title in more than two years, and that was not the only drought it broke.

Southern Conference Women's Golfer of the Week Payton Schanen walked away with first place at the Florida Gulf Coast Eagle Invitational on Feb. 14.

For the first time since their 2013-2014 season, the Bears had players finish in the top three of an event.

Jaelyn Tindal and Marin Hanna tied for third, and freshman Mary Janiga finished in the top 20 for the fourth time this season. Janiga also moved up nine spots on the leaderboard on the final day with a 2-over-par 74.

"They're playing fearlessly," Mercer head coach Michele Drinkard said.

The tournament consisted of 54 holes and 15 teams in Fort Myers, Florida. Shanen led the Bears in the first round with 2-under 70. In the second round, the Bears had a 5-over 293, their lowest of the tournament.

By the final round, there was a sizeable lead between Mercer and Toledo, which finished in second. Mercer was strong on the par 5s, finishing with a six-shot advantage on those holes.

"We're out there to win every shot," Drinkard said.

Drinkard, who is a first-year head coach for Mercer, attributed the Bears' successful start to being "all in reflection of what the players want to accomplish."

Last season, the Bears finished third in one tournament and had one player finish first. They already had have two players finish first this season and have taken top 10 in four out of five tournaments.

They play the Edwin Watts/Kiawah Island Classic in South Carolina, starting Sunday.

"It's a really exciting time to be a Bear," Drinkard said.

This story was originally published February 27, 2016 at 1:58 PM with the headline "Mercer women's golfers playing 'fearlessly' ."