Oct. 22, 2007
PHOTO GALLERY
37th Annual Lady Paladin Invitational Final Results
GREENVILLE, S.C. - The Kennesaw State women's golf team wrapped up their fall schedule this past weekend, finishing 17th at the 37th Annual Lady Paladin Invitational hosted by Furman University at the 6,288-yard, par-72 Furman University Golf Course.
The Owls improved their team score in each of the event's three rounds to finish with a 960 total, 58 strokes better than last year's squad. Kennesaw State carded a 323 in the first round, a 319 in the second round and a 318 in the third round.
Abby Fitzgerald led the Owls for the third time this season after finishing in a tie for 27th at 233. The sophomore from Leesburg, Ga., struggled in the first two rounds, posting a 79 and an 80 respectively before recovering with a two-over par 74 in the final round.
"Abby played a great third round for us," said Kennesaw State head coach Rhyll Brinsmead on the Owls top performer. "Shooting a 74 is tremendous on such a difficult course, and to do it in the final round says a lot about Abby's character."
Chelsea Bonk led the Owls in the first round on Friday, shooting a 77 before falling back with an 83 and an 80 in the final two rounds. Her 240 total landed her a tie for 65th and KSU's second best finish.
Laura Lindsey recorded the Owls lowest score in the second round, contributing a 77 to the team effort. The junior transfer from Daytona Beach Community College posted an 82 in the first round and an 83 in the third to finish with a 242 total and a tie for 73rd.
Lindsay Hagerman and Jessica Tarbet never found their games on the longest and most challenging course of the fall slate. Hagerman (89-79-84-252) finished tied for 91st while Tarbet (85-87-81-253) finished in 93rd.
"We gained some good exposure this weekend, but we are all obviously very disappointed in the result," added Brinsmead on her team's struggles in Greenville. "Those are the caliber of teams that we want to be able to compete against so this tournament gave us a good idea of what we need to improve upon heading into the winter break."
TCU (300-297-299) garnered the team title with a total of 896 while Carmen Perez-Narbon (70-78-69) of UNC Wilmington was the individual leader with a one-over par 217.
Fitzgerald led the Owls in scoring average during the fall, averaging 78.1 strokes per 18 holes after nine rounds. Hagerman's second round 72 at the Great Smokies Invitational was Kennesaw State's low 18 while Fitzgerald posted the Owls low 36 (149) and highest individual finish (t-9th) at the season-opening Draper Intercollegiate.
The Owls shot their lowest 18 hole total (304) and their lowest 36 hole total (610) as a team at the Draper Intercollegiate. They had two top 10 finishes in four events, led by a fifth place finish at the America's Choice Mortgage Lady Jaguar Invitational hosted by Augusta State University. They finished seventh at the Draper Intercollegiate for their other top 10 finish.
"We are going to train hard in the off season as there is room for improvement in everyone's game," added Brinsmead. "We will condition and train in the weight room as well as individualizing practice so each of our ladies has their own game plan to work on."
The Owls will get nearly three months off from competition before returning to action in Baja, Mexico at the Baja Invitational on February 11-12. Kennesaw State will host the inaugural Larry Nelson Invitational at the Chateau Course at Chateau Élon from March 30-April 1, 2008.
