Results

HOOVER, Ala. – University of South Alabama women's golfer Siti Shaari earned a top-15 finish at the Hoover Invitational Tuesday at Hoover Country Club.

Shaari (74-72-75—221) shot 2-over par 74 in the opening round on Monday, followed by an even par 72 in round two. She posted a 3-over par 75 in Tuesday's final round for a three-round, 5-over par total of 221 to finish tied for 13th place.

South Alabama (308-300-300 – 908) finished in ninth place after opening with a 308 team score, followed by consecutive rounds of 300 to cap the tournament. 

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Event (Host): Hoover Invitational (UAB)
Dates: September 21-22 (Saturday - Monday)
Format: 54 holes (36/18)  
Course: Hoover Country Club (Hoover, Ala.)
 
TEAM SCORES
1) Indianapolis, 293-294-285—872 (+8);  2) Western Kentucky, 295-287-296—878 (+14);  3) Southern Illinois, 296-296-295—887 (+23);  T4) Middle Tennessee, 306-297-288—891 (+27);  T4) UAB, 296-299-296—891 (+27);  6) ULM, 304-294-296—894 (+30);  7) Chattanooga, 301-294-306—901 (+37);  8) Troy, 301-298-308—907 (+43);  9) South Alabama, 308-300-300—908 (+44);  10) Little Rock, 305-309-301—915 (+51)

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
1) Pilar Echeverria, Indianapolis, 71-72-70—213 (-3);  2) Tia Teiniketo, UAB, 73-72-70—215 (-1);  3) Emilyee McGiles, SIU, 71-72-73—216 (E);  T4) Shelly Chen, UAB, 73-73-71—217 (+1);  T4) Chantal Dueringer, ULM, 76-72-69—217 (+1);  T4) Jahaanvie Walia, ULM, 72-72-73—217 (+1);  7) Hunter Nugent, Indianapolis, 75-75-68—218 (+2);  T8) Malena Austerslatt, Little Rock, 73-77-69—219 (+3);  T8) Sarah Arnold, WKU, 74-70-75—219 (+3)

SOUTH ALABAMA SCORES
T13) Siti Shaari, 74-72-75—221 (+5);  T30) Belinda May, 78-77-4—229 (+13);  T30) Caroline Berge, 78-76-75—229 (+13);  T34) Julie Hovland, 79-75-76—230 (+14);  T48) Carlota Garcia, 78-79-77—234 (+18);  62) Nele Mattner *, 85-81-84—250 (+34)
* - Denotes competed as individual

TEE SHOTS
- Shaari finished tied for 13th place, marking the eighth out of the last nine tournaments, dating back to last year's season opener at the USA Intercollegiate, that she has finished in the top 15.
- Shaari led the Jags in par-five scoring, finishing with a stroke average of 4.80 and 3-under par on par-five holes at the tournament. However, she played par threes at 7-over par with a stroke average of 3.47.
- Berge and Garcia each played par fives at 1-under par with a stroke average of 4.93 each.
- Shaari ranked 10th in birdies with nine over three rounds.
- May led the Jaguars with 35 pars in three rounds, which ranked 10th at the tournament.
- USA played par five holes at 2-under par with a team stroke average of 4.97. 

QUOTES
Head Coach Matt Luther 
- On the tournament:
"We had a lot working against us this week:  being shut down for a hurricane the week before essentially forced us to miss an entire week of preparation, different course conditions, and difficult course conditions that were firm and fast with Bent grass. It was basically everything working against us, and we didn't handle it very well. It is a great opportunity for us to learn from adversity, which is something we try to instill in our student-athletes."

- On improvements before the next tournament:
"We need to get better at skills that lend themselves to firm and fast conditions – being able to read lies and understand trajectory and where the ball needs to hit the ground. And that stuff particularly shows up around the greens. At home we can throw the ball in the air, and it lands by the hole and stops. That's not the case when you get up to a place like Arkansas where we are going for the next tournament. You have to be mindful and aware of what's going on around the greens and with second shots. It's stuff we talk about that tends to be inconsequential at (RTJ's Magnolia Grove) The Crossings or Azalea City (Golf Club) that we're not forced to pay attention to until we get to a place like Hoover Country Club, where the wind is blowing 15 miles per hour and it is firm and fast."

- On Carlota Garcia:
"Carlota is just a sponge. She wants to get better, and she has a lot of ability with a lot of room to grow and she's willing to grow. Don't sleep on that kid. She has a general understanding of what she needs to get better at, and a willingness to try and do it. If she's not getting it right, she's willing to leave a Carlota-shaped hole in the door trying to figure it out. She's willing to be uncomfortable and gets that it is important. Carlota has upper-class maturity and is really still a freshman."

UP NEXT
The Jaguars return to action Oct. 12-13 at the Lady Red Wolves Classic in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

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.