ARLINGTON, Texas – The University of South Alabama women's golf team shot a 10-over-par 294 Wednesday to earn its first win of the season, an eight-shot victory over Arkansas State at the UT Arlington Invitational held at the Walnut Creek Country Club.
USA had the lowest team score for the second consecutive round, with three Jaguars earning top-10 finishes, including Siti Shaari in the runner-up spot.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Event (Host): 2018 UT Arlington Invitational (UTA)
Dates: Oct. 22-23 (Monday-Tuesday)
Format: 54 holes (36/18)
Start Time: 8:30 a.m. shotgun starts Monday and Tuesday
Course: Walnut Creek Country Club (par 71, 6,015 yds)
Results
TEAM SCORES
1) South Alabama 303-293-294—890 (+38); 2) Arkansas State 301-294-303—898 (+46); 3) Southern Utah 305-304-296—905 (+53); 4) Incarnate Word 314-302-305—921 (+69); 5) UTA 315-310-308—933 (+81); 6) Little Rock 319-305-312—936 (+84); 7) Stephen F. Austin 330-303-311—944 (+92)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
1) **Jenna Phillips, Sam Houston State, 72-76-67—215 (+2); 2) Siti Shaari, South Alabama, 76-73-68—217 (+4); T3) Chanikan (Pluem) Yongyuan, Southern Utah, 72-74-73—219 (+6); T3) **Hannah Alberto, Sam Houston State, 74-73-72—219 (+6); 5) Caroline Berge, South Alabama, 72-75-74—221 (+8); 6) Olivia Schmidt, Arkansas State, 74-72-76—222 (+9); T7) Aracelly Jimenez Rios, Arkansas State, 76-74-74—224 (+11); T7) Iliana Stowers, Incarnate Word, 76-71-77—224 (+11); 9) Julie Hovland, South Alabama, 76-72-77—225 (+12); T10) Grayson Gladden, Arkansas State, 73-76-77—226 (+13); T10) Gracie Aday, Incarnate Word, 78-75-73—226 (+13)
**Competing as an individual
SOUTH ALABAMA SCORES
2) Siti Shaari, 76-73-68—217 (+4); 5) Caroline Berge, 72-75-74—221 (+8); 9) Julie Hovland, 76-72-77—225 (+12); T12) MacKenzie Peyton, 79-73-75—227 (+14); 30) Lexi Worrell, 82-78-77—237 (+24); T42) **Nele Mattner, 81-81-87—249 (+36)
**Competing as an individual
TEE SHOTS
- Siti Shaari's 3-under-par 68 was the lowest round of her career and the 4-over-par 217 ranks as the sophomore's lowest tournament score this season. The Subangjaya, Malaysia native led the Jaguars on par-3s (3.08, +1), par-4s (4.12, +4; second overall), and even-pars (37; first overall).
-Caroline Berge placed fifth with a final score of 221 (+8) to earn her first career top-five and second consecutive top-10 finish. She carded eight birdies through three rounds and held a 4.21 (+7) par-4 scoring average to tie for fourth overall in both categories.
-Four Jaguars were under on par-5 scoring: Julie Hovland averaged 4.78 (-2), while Berge, Shaari, and MacKenzie Peyton averaged 4.89 (-1).
-Hovland carded three birdies in the final round on the way to her third consecutive top-10 finish.
-Peyton ranked among the top 20 in par-4s (4.21, +7), even-pars (33), and birdies (5).
-South Alabama tied for first in par-4 (4.30, +49) and par-5 (4.91, -4) scoring and led outright in holes played at par (165) and birdies (32).
THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Matt Luther
On the team's first win of the season and today's overall performance… "It's good to win. We had a good battle today; Arkansas State looked good for three days. We're definitely getting better. We've still got plenty of things to improve upon. It's always great to win, but we deal with process, not outcome."
On Shaari's play throughout the tournament… "She started not great and just stayed patient and did things we talked to her about and stressed with her. She did a good job of keeping a good attitude and staying patient. She played a great round today and had a really good second round yesterday."
On Berge's first top-five finish and her improvements throughout the season… "She's hitting it better and managing the golf course better. She's still making a lot of mistakes and she's still got a lot of room to improve, but it's good to see her have some success."
On next week's tournament at Little Rock… "We've just got a couple of days of practice at home and then we're back on the road again. We'll take a look at a couple of little issues, but mostly we'll just sort of get back to a couple normal days of practice and then get back on the road to keep doing what we do."
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. 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.
—USA—
