Women's Golf Team Places Third At South Alabama Lady Jaguar Invitational

March 4, 2008

MOBILE, Alabama-- McNeese State's women's golf team placed third here Tuesday afternoon in the 18 team South Alabama Lady Jaguar Invitational with a 314 in the final round and finished the tournament with a 627. The Cowgirls entered the final round in sixth place following Monday's first round of 313. The finish is the highest tournament finish for the Cowgirls this season. McNeese finished eighth in its own Cowgirl Invitational in the opening tournament of the season then placed fifth at the Corpus Christi Ed Hicks Nissan Islander Classic last weekend.

"I'm very pleased with our play today. We showed poise and emotional control and did a good job finishing the tournament," said head coach Mike Fluty.

East Tennessee State held on to its first round lead to take team honors after a 299 in the final round and a tournament total of 600. Southern Miss placed second with a 617.

"The weather was perfect but the pin placements made the course tough. We went out and took our time on our shots and our course management was much improved. This finish gives us confidence heading into our next tournament. We will take a few days off before preparing for the Arkansas-Little Rock Tournament at the end of the month.

Maggie Welch was the Cowgirls' top finisher with a seventh place tie with a tournament score of 153. Welch headed into the final round tied for 18th after shooting a 77 in the opening round. She closed out the tournament with a second round 76.

"Maggie showed what kind of player she is by coming back from 18th place to finish in a 7th place tie."

Other Cowgirl finishers were Lacy McKinley finishing in a 12th place tie with a 154, Mandi Hamilton tied for 29th place with a 157, Jennifer Herrmann finished in a tie for 56th with a 163 and Jacy Reynolds tied for 81st with a 169. Randi Fischer finished 96th as an individual with a 177.

"McKinley played steady and has been working hard on her game and the work is beginning to show. This wasn't Mandi's best performance but she was steady under the conditions."

East Tennessee State's Sinead O'Sullivan held on to her one shot lead after Monday's round and fired a three under par 69 in the final round for a three shot victory over Southern Miss' Virginia Espejo to win the individual medalist with a 143.

The Cowgirls' next tournament will be the Arkansas-Little Rock Tournament slated for March 24-25.

Fin. School Scores

1. East Tennessee State 301- 299-- 600

2. Southern Mississippi 308- 309-- 617

3. McNeese State Univ. 313- 314-- 627

4. Belmont University 311- 318-- 629

5. Lamar University 311- 320-- 631

6. Samford University 314- 318-- 632

7. Jacksonville St. 312 -321-- 633

South Alabama, U. of 321- 312-- 633

9. Middle Tennessee St. 321- 313-- 634

Jackson State Univ. 320- 314-- 634

11. UAB 316 -322-- 638

12. Kennesaw St. Univ. 314- 325-- 639

13. ULM 321- 320 --641

Austin Peay State U. 318- 323-- 641

15. Winthrop University 324- 320-- 644

16. Troy University 328- 321-- 649

Arkansas State Univ. 327- 322-- 649

18. Nicholls State 329- 324-- 653