April 23, 2008

BEAUMONT, Texas - The Nicholls women's golf team closed out its season by shooting a 325 during the final round of the 2008 Southland Conference Women's Golf Championship held at the par 71, 6,069 yard Beaumont Country Club on Wednesday.

The Lady Colonels finished the three-day 54-hole event in eighth place with a 971 (314-332-325).

Leading the way for Nicholls was freshman Elyse Kinley who finished tied for 24th place by shooting a 237 (80-75-82). Other Lady Colonel golfers included junior Theunette Van der Walt (T29 - 77-85-78=240), senior Daniele Dunlop (T36 - 77-90-83=250), sophomore Emiley Patton (T36 - 82-86-82=250) and senior Natalie Robinson (39th - 80-86-89=255).

Three teams, Texas State, Sam Houston State and Lamar had a lead on the final day of the SLC Women's Golf Championship at Beaumont Country Club, but the Bobcats prevailed in the end, winning by three over the Cardinals and Bearkats. It is the Bobcat's first title since winning it in 2002, the first year the event was held. The tournament title also earns Texas State an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament, the first automatic bid in SLC history.

Individually, Texas State's Linn Gustaffson shot a final round 77 and won medalist honors by five over Sam Houston State's Jennifer Heinz and Central Arkansas' Nicole Forshner, as both players shot 74 and 77 respectively. Gustaffson shot a three day total of 220, which is the best total in SLC history, besting the 221 total set by Sam Houston State's Stephanie Page last year.

Texas State shot a 307 on the final day to post a three-day total of 907, eding Lamar and Sam Houston State, which finished at 910 respectively, following a final day 306 and 302, respectively.

UTSA finished fourth, with a final day 315 to finish at 931.

Central Arkansas posted a 932 three day total, shooting 316 on the final day. A&M-Corpus Christi shot 936 over three days, including a 315 on the final day to finish sixth.

McNeese State finished seventh at 940, with a 323 third round total, while Nicholls State finished at 971, shooting 325 on the final day.

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