JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – University of South Alabama senior Madison Connell led the women's golf team in scoring after shooting an even-par 72 with four birdies in the final round of the UNF Collegiate at the Jacksonville Golf & Country Club. A tournament total of 217 – just one over par – earned her sixth place overall.
The Jaguars scored a combined 899 (+35) and tied for eighth in the competition.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Event (Host): 2018 UNF Collegiate (North Florida)
Dates: March 5-6 (Monday-Tuesday)
Format: 54 holes (18/18/18)
Start Time: 9:30 a.m. CST shotgun start March 5-6
Course: Jacksonville Golf & Country Club (par 72, 5,926 yds)
Results
TEAM SCORES
1) Old Dominion 282-289-293 – 864 (E); 2) Chattanooga 292-295-296 – 883; 3) Toledo 300-296-290 – 886; 4) Daytona State 286-306-295 – 887; 5) Western Kentucky 286-300-303 – 889; 6) Murray State 291-295-304 – 890; 7) Delaware 305-297-294 – 896; T8) North Florida 299-296-304 – 899; T8) South Alabama 294-304-301 – 899; 10) Xavier 294-305-304 – 903; 11) Eastern Kentucky 304-302-301 – 907; 12) Stetson 309-308-298 – 915; 13) Cincinnati 317-304-304 – 925; 14) UAB 316-309-307 – 932; 15) Charleston Southern 313-306-314 – 933; 16) Central Michigan 308-312-316 – 936; 17) Samford 318-316-313 – 947
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
1) Jiwon Jeon, Daytona State, 66-69-67 – 202 (-14); 2) Pinyada Kuvanun, Toledo, 72-71-67 – 210; 3) Mary Joiner, Western Kentucky, 69-73-70 – 212; 4) Abigail Portyrata, Old Dominion, 73-70-71 – 214; 5) Katerina Vlasinova, Old Dominion, 70-71-74 – 215; T6) Maggie Simmermacher, Old Dominion, 71-73-73 – 217; T6) Madison Connell, South Alabama, 70-75-72 – 217; T6) Megan Woods, Chattanooga, 74-70-73 – 217; T6) Mikayla Smith, Xavier, 72-72-73 – 217; T6) Ariane Klotz, Delaware, 71-71-75 – 217
SOUTH ALABAMA SCORES
T6) Madison Connell, 70- 75-72 – 217 (+1); T27) Siti Shaari, 71-76-78 – 225; T38) MacKenzie Peyton, 77-79-73 – 229; T55) Julie Hovland, 76-80-78 – 234; 82) Caroline Berge, 86-74-84 – 244
TEE SHOTS
-MacKenzie Peyton recorded a one-over-par 73 during round three, tying her lowest-scoring round of the 2017-18 season. She carded two birdies in the round and played 14 holes at par.
-Connell and Peyton ended the tournament tied for fourth overall in par-3 scoring. They each shot one under and averaged 2.92 on the week.
-Siti Shaari tied for fourth on par-5 scoring, shooting five under and averaging 4.58 in the tournament. Connell shot one under and averaged 4.92 on par-5 holes, while Julie Hovland broke even in the competition.
-Connell recorded nine birdies in the tournament and tied for 12th overall in the category. She placed 13th overall in pars, tallying 36 total.
THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Matt Luther
On the team's overall performance and maintaining their top-10 spot… "We got a couple of good rounds out of our upperclassmen. Madison kept playing good. MacKenzie finally put a round together. They kept us from falling too far behind."
On Peyton's performance during day two… "She just found a way. She didn't hit it great. She made some putts and managed things and did what experienced players do."
On Connell's overcoming a tough start to the round… "It's just a testament to experience. Two years ago that would've turned into a 79 or an 80. She stuck with the process, never got rattled and brought it back to a top-10 finish."
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
Join the Chip In Club, the women's golf specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. All donations to the Chip In Club go directly to support the South Alabama women's golf program. For more information on how you can join visit: jaguarathleticfund.com/chipinclub.
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