Cougars Capture Pinehurst Challenge Title
Junior Leigh Whittaker Earns Medalist Honors
PINEHURST, N.C. - The College of Charleston Women's Golf Team shot the low round for the tournament with a 298 en route to winning the 2011 Pinehurst Challenge Tuesday.
"Considering the conditions we played the best round of golf we have played all year," said Head Coach Jamie Futrell. "It's always great to win a golf tournament and it's really special when you win at Pinehurst."
Junior Leigh Whittaker earned medalist honors as she fired a one-under for the final round and finished with a three-over 219 for the tournament, winning by eight strokes.
"Leigh had an amazing tournament," Futrell said. "She has developed into an outstanding collegiate golfer and is proving that she can win anytime she tees it up."
For Whittaker it was her second win of the season as she won the Palmetto Intercollegiate Oct. 25-26 at Oak Point in Kiawah Island, S.C.
Whittaker was not the only Cougar in the top-10 as sophomore Kathy Boehm earned runner-up honors as she tied for second with an 11-over 227. Fellow sophomore Ainhoa Nogales tied for sixth with a 232.
In beating the field of 13 other teams the Cougars finished ahead of Minnesota, the No. 38 team in the country according to GolfStat Rankings. The Gophers were the runner-up team in the tournament.
Up next the Cougars travel to Hilton Head, S.C. for the Southern Conference Championship April 17-19 at Moss Creek Golf Club.
"This win provides us with great momentum going into the conference tournament," Futrell said. "The conference course is much like Pinehurst No. 6 in that it requires accuracy over distance. We have proven that we can play well on those types of golf courses."
1 Charleston, Coll. of 310 305 298 913
1 Leigh Whittaker 73 75 71 219
T 2 Kathy Boehm 78 76 73 227
T 6 Ainhoa Nogales 78 77 77 232
T 17 Vanessa Koechli 82 77 77 236
T 36 Anna Martin 81 84 80 245
1 Charleston, Coll. of 310 305 298 913 +49
2 Minnesota, U. of 306 309 310 925 +61
3 Jacksonville St. 320 319 305 944 +80
4 Samford University 310 319 320 949 +85
5 Morehead State - KY 318 312 321 951 +87
6 Western Carolina U. 313 325 320 958 +94
7 Campbell University 319 318 322 959 +95
8 Toledo, U. of 318 322 322 962 +98
9 South Alabama, U. of 329 326 318 973 +109
10 Appalachian State U. 319 329 326 974 +110
11 High Point U. 340 331 335 1006 +142
12 Winthrop University 336 334 340 1010 +146
13 Citadel, The 341 345 334 1020 +156
14 South Carolina St. 357 353 393 1103 +239
Final Round of UNCW Lady Seahawk Classic Cancelled; Elon Places Third
WALLACE, N.C. -- Due to strong thunderstorms that are supposed to last until early afternoon, the final round of the UNCW Lady Seahawk Classic has been cancelled. Monday's two-round results are now the final results and the Elon Phoenix women's golf team records a third-place showing out of 10 teams with a score of 622 (312-310).
Virginia Mayer was Elon's top performer, placing in a tie for seventh among the 55 individuals in the field. Mayer recorded a two-round mark of 154 (78-76). Tara McFadden was one stroke back in a tie for ninth after rounds of 80-75--155 on Monday.
Martyna Mierzwa finished in a tie for 12th with a score of 157 (78-79). In a tie for 17th was Shannon Pruntywho fired a 158 (78-80) over her two rounds of play on Monday. Rounding out Elon's contingent was Lauren Lebak who finished in a tie for 29th with a two-round score of 161 (78-83).
East Carolina claimed the team title thanks to a two-round tally of 603 (294-309). The Pirates were led by Fanny Wolte who posted the top individual mark with a 148 (73-75).
Placing second was Old Dominion (308-308--616). Behind Elon in the top five were James Madison (315-308--623) and Longwood (316-312--628). UNC Greensboro was the only other Southern Conference team in the field. The Spartans finished sixth after posting a 630 (318-312) on Monday.
Elon will be off the course until the Southern Conference Championship which will be contested in Hilton Head, S.C. on April 16-19.
Final round of Lady Seahawk Classic canceled, UNCG finishes sixth
WALLACE, N.C. - The final round of the UNCW Lady Seahawk Classic has been canceled by inclement weather. The Spartans finished sixth after Monday's two rounds of play.
A severe thunderstorm warning and tornado watch were issued for the southeastern part of the state Tuesday.
UNCG posted a two-round total of 630 with rounds of 318 and 312 to finish two strokes behind Longwood and nine ahead of host UNCW. East Carolina was declared the tournament champion after turning in rounds of 294 and 309 Monday.
Erica Creed was UNCG's top finisher after turning in two rounds of 79 Monday. She finished tied for 17th. Ana Lucia Martinez and Begona Sarabia tied for 22nd just a shot back of Creed.
UNCG wraps up the season at the Southern Conference Championship at the Moss Creek Country Club in Hilton Head, S.C., from April 17-19.
LADY SEAHAWK CLASSIC
River Landing Golf Club (6,011 yards, par-72)
Wallace, N.C.
Team scores
1. East Carolina 294-309-603; 2. Old Dominion 308-308-616; 3. Elon 312-310-622; 4. James Madison 315-308-623; 5, Longwood 316-312-628; 6. UNCG 318-312-630; 7. UNCW 316-323-639; Gardner-Webb 316-330-646; 9. William & Mary 325-326-651; 10. Siena 340-334-674.
Individual scores
Top 10: 1. Fanny Wolte (ECU) 73-75-148; T2. Catrine Gunnarsson (JMU) 75-75-150; T2. Elizabeth Haycock (ODU) 75-75-150; 4. Amy Otteson (ECU) 72-79-151; 5. Kimberly Bradbury (ODU) 74-78-152; 6. Amber Littman (ECU) 72-81-153; T7. Virginia Mayer (Elon) 78-76-154; T7. Colleen Estes (ECU) 77-77-154; T9. Tara McFadden (Elon) 80-75-155; T9. Ginger Mak (JMU) 80-75-155.
UNCG golfers: T17. Erica Creed 79-79-158; T22. Ana Lucia Martinez 86-73-159; T22. Begona Sarabia 79-80-159; T29. Courtney Taylor 77-84-161; T38. Lizzie Bundy 83-80-163.
Women's Golf Finishes Sixth at Pinehurst Challenge
Senior Josefine Sundh led WCU with 11th-place showing
Pinehurst, N.C. - Western Carolina maintained its position after the first two rounds in the final standings, placing sixth out of 14 teams on Tuesday at the Pinehurst Challenge held at the par-72, 5,981-yard Pinehurst No. 6 course amidst windy conditions. Senior Josefine Sundh finished tied for 11th to lead the Catamounts for a third-straight event.
WCU stood in sixth place following Monday's 36 holes, just one stroke out of the top five after shooting 638 (313-325) through the opening two rounds.
Tied for first after the opening round, tournament host College of Charleston carded a two-day low team round of 298 on Monday to pull away to win the championship by 12 strokes over second-place Minnesota, 913-to-925. Jacksonville State finished third with a three-round score of 944, with Samford (949) and Morehead State (951) finishing just ahead of WCU in sixth.
The Cougars put two atop the leader board as Leigh Whittaker took individual medalist honors with a three-over, 219, eight strokes over the second-place tie between CofC teammate Kathy Boehm, Mary Narzisi of Minnesota and Jacksonville State's Astrid Parsson at 227.
Sundh finished amongst a six-way tie for 11th place with a 19-over 235 to lead the Catamounts while junior Rachel Nelson was one stroke in arrears in a four-way tie for 17th. Both posted team-low rounds of three-over 75 with Nelson firing her best round on the first 18 holes while Sundh shot her best round in the second.
Sophomore Malin Jansson finished tied for 23rd at 239, with junior Blaire Minter tied for 52nd (253) and redshirt senior Tiffany Schisler in a tie for 60th (256).
Ranked 69th in the nation according to the recent GolfStat report entering the week, Western Carolina now turns its attention to the 2011 Southern Conference Women's Golf Championships to be held April 17-19 at the Moss Creek Golf Club in Hilton Head, S.C. The Catamounts will look to build upon their sixth-place finishes over the past two years at the same course.
WCU has twice claimed the SoCon's top women's golf prize, winning the conference event in both 2004 and ‘07.
Baumgartner Fires a Final Round 83 to Lead Bulldogs at Pinehurst Challenge
Pinehurst, N.C. - The Bulldogs, led by junior Bree Baumgartner, carded a final round 334 to finish the Pinehurst Challenge in 13th place (+156). The three-round, two-day tournament was held at the famed par 72 Pinehurst #6 Course.
Baumgartner finished her first two rounds on Monday tied for 57th (+27), before carding a third round 84 to move up to 56th place (+39). This marks the first time during the 2010-11 season that the junior has led the Bulldogs in a tournament.
Freshman leader Erica Pellegrini finished tied for 60th place, shooting a 256 (+40), while senior Christine Clark (257, +42) carded a final round 81, five strokes below her season average to finish one spot below Pellegrini in 64th place. Also competing for the Bulldogs was junior Alanna-Jean Keith (260, +44) to finish tied for 68th and senior Sheri Rockefeller (275, +59) to finish in 75th place.
Host of the Pinehurst Challenge and cross-town rival, The College of Charleston, dominated the tournament, winning by 12 strokes over the University of Minnesota to finish with a three-round total of 913 (+49). Southern Conference foes Samford University (949, +85), Western Carolina (958, +94), and Appalachian State (974, +110) also participated in the competition.
Cougars golfers Leigh Whittaker and Kathy Boehm captured the top two individual spots at Pinehurst with a 219 (+3) and 227 (+11), respectively.
The Citadel Golf team will finish up their season at the Southern Conference Championships held at Hilton Head Island, S.C on April 17-20.
Boo Finishes Strong at Pinehurst
PINEHURST, N.C. - Sophomore Kristina Boo (Hassleholm, Sweden/Tekniska Skola) shaved seven strokes off her round two score to move into 11th place at the Pinehurst Challenge with a 78-82-75=235 (+19) and lead Appalachian State University women's golf. The Mountaineers placed 10th at the tournament with a 319-329-326=974 (+11).
Yue Xu (Beijing, China/HuiJia Private School) finished four strokes back at 77-80-82=239 (+23) in a tie for 23rd place while Rumbidzai Masamvu (Harare, Zimbabwe/Dominican Convent) carded a 77-82-86=245 (+29) at the 54-hole event on the 5,981-yard Pinehurst No. 6 Course.
Mimi Burke (Mooresville, N.C./Cannon School) placed 56th at 87-85-83=255 (+39) and Kerri Dice (Chapel Hill, N.C./East Chapel Hill) finished 71st at 93-85-86=264 (+48) in Appalachian's final tune-up before the Southern Conference Tournament in Hilton Head, S.C.
Host College of Charleston pulled away from Minnesota after a second-round tie to earn a 12-stroke team victory at 913 (+49). CofC's Leigh Whittaker led after each of the three rounds to win the individual title at 219 (+3), eight strokes ahead of the next three competitors.
From the SoCon, Samford slipped to fourth place at 949 (+85), Western Carolina placed sixth at 958 (+94) and The Citadel finished 13th at 1020 (+156).
The Mountaineers have two weeks to prepare for the league tournament at Moss Creek on April 17-19.
Rankin Paces Terriers With Third Place Finish at WGV Intercollegiate
ST. AUGUSTINE, FLA. -- Wofford's Alex Rankin finished tied for third place with a score of 73-77--150 (+6) at the 6,073 yard par-72 The Slammer & The Squire Course at the World Golf Village in the weather shortened World Golf Village Intercollegiate.
The tournament was scheduled for three rounds, two rounds on Monday and the final round on Tuesday, but weather shorted the event to only Monday's rounds.
Rankin finished three shots out of second place and nine shots behind tournament winner Mitsuki Katahira from Daytona State College (73-68--141).
As a team, the Terriers finished in sixth place with a score of 635 (+59). They shot a 325 in the opening round and rebounded with a 310 in the second round.
Anne Marie Covar cracked the top ten with an 82 in round one and a 73 in round two for Wofford as she finished with a 155 (+11).
Alex Hendricks had rounds of 88 and 80 for a 168, and Sarah Hurt had her first round score of 82 count towards the team total, while Meredith Few had her second round score of 80 count. Hurt shot an 89 in her final round, and Few opened with a 91. Both players shot a 171 over the two rounds.
Wofford will tee off for the final time in 2010-2011 season at the Southern Conference Tournament in Hilton Head, S.C. April 17 through April 19.
SAMFORD WOMEN'S GOLF: BULLDOGS TAKE FOURTH PLACE AT 2011 PINEHURST CHALLENGE
--- Samford earns its fourth top-five finish of the spring season ---
PINEHURST, N.C. --- The Samford University women's golf team continued its stellar play in the spring season Tuesday as the Bulldogs registered their fourth top-five finish in as many outings throughout the 2011 campaign. With the completion of Tuesday's final round, Samford notched a fourth-place finish at the Pinehurst Challenge being hosted by College of Charleston at the Pinehurst No. 6 Golf Course.
Prior to Tuesday's fourth-place finish, the Bulldogs were coming off a pair of championship titles at the USA Lady Jaguar Invitational and the Samford Intercollegiate, as well as a runner-up finish at the 2011 Low Country Intercollegiate.
The Bulldogs carded a team score of 320 on Tuesday to complete the three-round competition with a total tally of 949 (310-319-320). Host school College of Charleston earned the championship title with a 54-hole total of 913, while Minnesota finished second at 925 and Jacksonville State placed third with a team score of 944.
Individually, Samford's Sarah Butts finished fifth in the talent-laden tournament with a three-round tally of 230 (77-76-77). College of Charleston's Leigh Whittaker won the individual medalist award as she blew away the competition with a 54-hole score of 3-over-par 219 (73-75-71). Whittaker topped a trio of second-place performers by eight strokes.
The Bulldogs' true freshman Natalie Mitchell earned the team's second-best finish Tuesday. Samford's native of Germantown, Tenn., completed the tournament with a three-round score of 239 (75-84-80), while teammate Anna Heim finished just one stroke behind at 240 (75-82-83).
Rounding out the Bulldogs' scoring this week were sophomore Kayla Turner (83-80-82 = 245) and true freshman Alex Jasper (88-81-81 = 250).
The Samford University women's golf team will next be in action April 17-19 at the Moss Creek Golf Club in Hilton Head, S.C., as the Bulldogs compete in the all-important 2011 Southern Conference Championship. Last season, Samford rallied on the final day of competition to earn a fourth-place finish at the 2010 SoCon Championship.