Newsome Grad Wins Tennessee Women's Open

High humidity failed to hamper Jessica Alexander's golf game last weekend. 

The Riverview resident golfed a two-over par 218 to win the 15th annual Golf Capital of Tennessee Women's Open July 18-20 at the Stonehenge Golf Club.

Alexander, a recent graduate of Coastal Carolina University, received a $5,000 first-place check for her victory.

"The course was in perfect condition. It was challenging. It was a great experience," Alexander told the Crossville Chronicle. 

Thirty-two professionals and 29 amateurs survived the 36-hole cut over the tournament's three days. 

Alexander trailed amateur Corinna Rees of Nashville with two strokes after Saturday's first round. Rees' two-under par 70 and Haley Ann Wilson's one-under-par 71 were the only scores below par, while Alexander and several other ladies were in at even par.

Scores improved during last Friday's second round, with professional Carleigh Silvers and amateur Cammie Grey recording one-under-par 71s.

But Alexander fired a one-over-par 73 Friday for a 145 to share the second round lead with Rees and Wilson.

Alexander's second straight 73 secured the two-stroke victory over amateur Kately Sepmoree of Austin, TX, who had the second-best round of the day, a one-under-par 71 for a 220 total.

A graduate of Newsome High School, Alexander earned First Team All-Western Conference her last three years of high school as well as team MVP honors her final two seasons. She finished in top four in District Championship as a junior and senior and advanced on to the Regionals both seasons, finishing 11th as a senior and tying for fifth her junior year.

Alexander was named Most Valuable Sophomore and Most Valuable Freshman during high school, playing at No. 2 each of those seasons. She finished ninth in 2008 Florida State Women's Amateur Stroke Play, was the top-seeded player at the 2007 Florida State Junior Match Play Championship with a 2-under 70 and finished as the runner-up.

On the academic front, she was ranked in the top 7 percent of her graduating class, earning Honor Roll every year.

She finished her Coastal Carolina career ranked second in the CCU annals with a career scoring average of 75.27. She was one of three members of the hole in one club, recording an ace on the par-3, 186-yard 11th hole at the Mercedes-Benz Women's Championship on Oct. 9, 2010. She also was a six-time Big South Golfer of the Week honoree and earned NGCA All-American Scholar honors each of her four seasons.

She said her dream is to golf on the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour.