March 10, 2009
SORRENTO, FLA. -
The University of North Carolina women's golf team fired a six-over-par 294 in the final round of the UCF Challenge to finish in ninth place. The Tar Heels posted an 881 total in the 54-hole event.
Carolina's Sydney Crane and Catherine O'Donnell were the top Tar Heels, firing 219 totals and tying for 28th place. Crane, a senior from Jamestown, N.C., carded a 76 in the final round while O'Donnell, a freshman from Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., shot 75. Senior Lauren Hunt fired the Tar Heels' low round of the day, a two-under-par 70. The Little River, S.C., native posted a 227 total and finished tied for 61st. Allie White, a freshman from Lancaster, Ohio, carded a one-over 73 on Tuesday for a 221 total and tied for 43rd place while sophomore Kate Thomas, from Murwillumbah, Australia, struggled with an 83 in the final round to finish with a 235 total to tie for 79th place.
UCLA captured the team title after firing a seven-under-par 281. The Bruins finished with a 14-under 850 total, seven strokes ahead of runner-up Arizona State, the second-round leader, which tallied an 857 total after posting a one-over 289 on Tuesday. Oklahoma State finished third at three-under 861 while Southern California was fourth at 872 and Auburn finished in fifth place with an 874 total.
Stephanie Kono of UCLA fired a six-under-par 66 in the final round to win the individual title. Kono carded an eight-under 208 total, one stroke ahead of Florida's Jessica Yadoczky who posted a one-over 73 on Tuesday for a 209 total. Jennie Lee of Duke finished third at six-under 210 after posting a one-under 71 in the final round. One stroke behind Lee at five-under 211 were Auburn's Candace Schepperle and UCLA's Glory Yang. Schepperle fired a four-under 68 in the final round while Yang posted a one-under 71.
The 54-hole event was played at RedTail Golf Club which features a par 72, 6,356-yard layout. The Tar Heels travel on to Baton Rouge, La., where they will play in the LSU Invitational this Friday through Sunday.
