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4/15/2009 - WOMEN'S GOLF
The Hat Fits! Stetson Wins Women's Golf Title
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ASunPhotos.com
DeLAND, Fla. – Campbell’s 18-hole team scoring record lasted less than 20 hours as Stetson’s team of Danielle Jackson, Lauren Cate, Christine Fraser and Lauren Darnell combined to shoot an even-par, 288 to best the Camels by two strokes in winning the program’s first Atlantic Sun Women’s Golf Championship on its home course, Victoria Hills Golf Club.
Trailing by three entering the final round, Jackson and Cate got their round started well, as each birdied the par-5 first hole. After eight consecutive pars, Jackson birdied the par-4 tenth hole. After a 15th hole bogey, the junior from Seminole, Fla., closed with consecutive birdies on the par-3 16th and par-4 17th and a finishing par on the 18th hole, securing both the Medalist honor and the team title. Her three-under, 69, matched the Championship’s record score for both a final round and for a final round score carded by an eventual winner. Only five other golfers in Atlantic Sun Women’s Championship history have registered a score in the 60s (Campbell’s Kylie Pratt, 69 in 1999; Georgia State’s Erica Wein in 2004; Campbell’s Alejandra Shaw in both 2006 and 2007 as well as ETSU’s Laura Jansone and Belmont’s Lorie Warren – both last year). Cate finished two back of Jackson in large part to her ability to make hay on the par-5s. The freshman finished seven-under of Victoria Hills’ four such holes, including two-under on Wednesday.
Campbell fought valiantly to keep up with the host, led by the play of Mary Mattson and Belen Diaz Cisneros. The teammate fired matching 70s in leading the Camels to a five-over 293 – a total that prior to this year had been bettered only once, a 292 by UCF in 2000. ETSU’s reign as the champion officially ended with a third-place finish. Freshman Nina Muehl led the Buccaneers with a two-under 70 to finish the Championship at one-over, 217, good for a third-place showing. She carded an eagle on the opening hole, the second recorded on the hole and one of six for the week.
Two teams playing in their first Women’s Golf Championship, Kennesaw State and FGCU followed the three leaders, placing fourth and fifth respectively. The Owls shot 301 to move up two spots on the board, led by a par of two-over par 74’s by Jordan Lazenby and Malin Becker. Jacksonville shared fifth with FGCU.
In her final round as a Bruin, Belmont’s Lorie Warren notched 17 pars to go with a single birdie for a 71, as the 2008 Player of the Year finished in a tie for fourth and her team finished seventh. Mercer took eighth with USC Upstate edging out Lipscomb by two strokes for ninth.
The top five finishers for the week, Jackson, Cate, Muehl, Mattson and Warren achieved All-Championship status.
The Hatters will compete in an NCAA Regional to take place from Thursday, May 7 to Saturday, May 9 at a site to be determined. Regionals will be played in Gainesville, Fla., at the University of Florida Golf Course, in Columbus, Ohio at the Scarlet Course and in Tempe, Ariz.
The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.
