GADSDEN, Ala. - The University of South Alabama women’s golf team won its first tournament of the season Tuesday at the Chris Banister-Gamecock Fall Classic. The Lady Jaguars won in impressive fashion with a 14 stroke lead over host Jacksonville State at the Silver Lakes Golf Course on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. The victory is the first for the Lady Jags since they won the USA Lady Jaguar Spring Invitational in 2004. Lamar golfer Hiliary Zeigler won the individual title shooting two-under par, 214.
“The girls got off to a sluggish start, but really hung in there and got the victory,” said women’s coach TJ Jackson. “This is a big win for us, to get one early in the year and to get one under our belt.”
In the third round, the Jaguars were paced by junior Sara Marti firing a one-over par 73, and finishing fifth with a 229 score. Senior Elin Andersson shot 79 finishing fourth, while senior Michelle Toth recorded 77 to finish sixth. Sophomore Darah Newell carded 81 and sophomore Shirley Harvey shot 80, to round out the Lady Jaguar scoring tied for ninth and 37th, respectively.
Behind Zeigler, was her Lamar teammate Therese Nilsson, shooting 223. Jacksonville State golfer Michele Thomson finished in third recording 225, while Andersson and Marti finished in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Jacksonville State finished behind South Alabama recording an eight-over par 296 on the final day and finishing overall with 933. Lamar finished third at 937, followed by Western Kentucky (957), and Mercer (959) finish in fourth and fifth to round out the top five.
“We came close last year at a few tournaments and to do it on the road against a very good team in Jacksonville State, shows how hard they have worked and proved we can win,” said Jackson.
1 South Alabama 302 – 308 – 919
4 Elin Andersson 75 – 73 – 79 = 227
5 Sara Marti 76 – 80 – 73 = 229
6 Michelle Toth 75 – 78 – 77 = 230
T-9 Darah Newell 76 – 77 – 81 = 234
T-30 Shirley Harvey 87 – 86 – 80 = 253
