Fourth-ranked Cumberland University edged Tennessee Wesleyan 2-1 in NAIA women’s soccer Thursday in Athens in the season opener for both teams, but the TWC men edged 21st-ranked Savannah College of Art and Design by the same score at Hardeeville, S.C. The Bulldogs’ Sammy Mawuko scored 4:28 into the match and Nelson De La Pava made it 2-0 8:09 in, from an assist by Ben Wilks, and they held on despite being outshot 19-7. SCAD scored 11 minutes into the second half. Emily Shires scored both Cumberland goals in the first 13 minutes of the women’s game, assisted by Olivia Chu and Connie Awuku-Darkoh. TWC’s Emiley Saddler scored from an Alexis Dalberth assist in the 58th minute, and Taylor Young made 11 saves in defeat.
Golf
* Eric Hester of Nob North Golf Course at Cohutta was one of 13 PGA professionals the association announced Thursday as having completed PGA Certified Professional Program 2.0. One of the others teaches and coaches in Guam; the other 11 work at courses and other venues across the United States. PGA CPP 2.0 is an “enhanced, all-digital training and education curriculum,” the announcement release explained, that offers certifications in general management, player development and teaching/coaching as well as golf operations, which Hester completed.
* The Dalton State women’s golf team was picked unanimously to win the Southern States Athletic Conference championship again in 2015-16, following its title in the program’s first year of eligibility, and the Dalton State men were picked to finish second to reigning NAIA national champion Coastal Georgia. Both Dalton State teams have returning NAIA individual champions, Julia McQuilken and Sean Elliott, and the Lady Roadrunners also return SSAC medalist Caroline Griffin. Women’s coach Jim McGrew said his team is “extremely honored” to be considered the best in a strong and improving conference but warned that “even though it is flattering, we realize that we have not accomplished anything this year. Our goal is to go to work every day and try and get better.” Said DSC men’s coach Ben Rickett: “We have a strong conference with the two-time defending (NAIA) champions. We are obviously doing something right, but we are not where we want to be. We need to continue to make progress.”