GULF SHORES, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women's golf team finished second, one stroke behind winner Bethune-Cookman, after shooting a tournament-best 289 (+1) on the final day of the Bama Beach Bash at the Gulf Shores Golf Club. The Jaguars ended with a team total of 894 (+30).
 
Sophomore Julie Hovland shot a 5-under-par 67, the lowest round of the tournament, and finished second individually with a 54-hole score of 217 (+1).
 
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Event (Host): 2019 Bama Beach Bash (Alabama-Birmingham and South Alabama)
Dates: March 22-24 (Friday-Sunday)
Format: 54 holes (18/18/18)
Start Time: 8:30 a.m.
Course: Gulf Shores Golf Club (par 72, 6,002 yds)
Live Results
 
TEAM SCORES
1) Bethune-Cookman 297-301-295—893 (+29); 2) South Alabama 303-302-289—894 (+30); 3) Alabama-Birmingham 311-296-296—903 (+39); 4) Cincinnati 317-299-302—918 (+54); 5) McNeese State 318-305-309—932 (+68); 6) West Florida 326-308-311—945 (+81); 7) Alabama State 332-308-312—952 (+88); 8) North Dakota 334-312-318—964 (+100); 9) Henderson State 335-337-319—991 (+127); 10) North Alabama 336-331-339—1,006 (+142); 11) North Carolina A&T 348-327-332—1,007 (+143); 12) Union (Tenn.) 346-339-325—1,010 (+146); 13) Spring Hill 381-426-424—1,231 (+367)
 
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
1) Yudika Rodriguez, Bethune-Cookman, 73-69-74—216 (E); 2) Julie Hovland, South Alabama, 76-74-67—217 (+1); 3) Stephenie Fowler, Alabama-Birmingham, 79-72-68—219 (+3); T4) Amalia Shahzan, Cincinnati, 74-71-76—221 (+5); T4) Sumie Francois, Bethune-Cookman, 72-77-72—221 (+5); T6) Siti Shaari, South Alabama, 74-78-72—224 (+8); T6) Lexi Worrell, South Alabama, 76-74-74—224 (+8); 8) Caitlin Evans-Brand, Bethune-Cookman, 76-78-72—226 (+10); 9) Riley Isaac, McNeese State, 71-76-80—227 (+11); 10) Tie Teiniketo, Alabama-Birmingham, 75-76-77—228 (+12)
 
SOUTH ALABAMA SCORES
2) Julie Hovland, 76-74-67—217 (+1); T6) Siti Shaari, 74-78-72—224 (+8); T6) Lexi Worrell, 76-74-74—224 (+8); 11) Caroline Berge, 77-76-76—229 (+13); T50) Nele Mattner, 86-85-83—254 (+38); N/A) **MacKenzie Peyton, WD
 
**Competing as an individual
 
TEE SHOTS
-Hovland's 67 ties for the second-lowest in USA program history. She led the field in par-4 scoring with a 3.92 (-2) average and was among the top 20 in all five statistical categories.
-Siti Shaari picked up her fourth top-10 finish of the season with an 8-over-par 224 total. She shot her best round of the tournament, an even-par 72, and carded four birdies Sunday. The sophomore was second overall in par-4 scoring (4.04, +1) and tied for fifth with 35 holes played at even-par.
-Senior Lexi Worrell shot a 224 (+8) in the tournament to tie with Shaari for sixth overall. It was her best tournament this season and her second top-10 finish of the year. She tied for fourth in par-5 scoring (4.93, -1) and held a 3.07 (+1) scoring average on par-3 holes. Four of her seven birdies came in Sunday's final round.
-Caroline Berge finished 11th overall with a 229 (+13) three-round total. The sophomore led the Jaguars and tied for fourth overall with 36 holes played at even-par. She was even on par-5 scoring.
-USA held a 4.28 (+33) average on par-4 holes to lead the field and ranked third with a 5.13 (+10) average on par-5s. The Jaguars were second in birdies (34) and holes played at even-par (160).
 
THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Matt Luther 
 
On the final round: "The course played easier and we definitely took advantage of it. It was fun. I think we had 20-something birdies. We got it going and really closed at the end and just came up one short. It was definitely good to see that we could put it into that gear. We came up one short, but it was a great learning experience in that we played 894 shots and every single one of them mattered. This is stuff we talk about all the time. The first tee shot counts the same as the last putt of the tournament."
 
On Hovland's performance: "She played the best round I've seen a Jaguar play in my tenure. She played super solid, managed the golf course really well and showed what kind of player she really is. It was exciting to see. She had a new plan going into the week and she's really been grasping on to process, planning and game management and it's great to see it pay off."
 
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—