Women's Golf Claims Third-Straight Lady Gamecock Classic Crown

BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. -- For the third-consecutive day, second-ranked Duke had the best team round of the day on Sunday, March 19 as the Blue Devils cruised to their third-consecutive Lady Gamecock Classic crown at The University Club. The Blue Devils, who also captured the 1999 NCAA East Regional at The University Club and have won their last four tournaments here, won the title by 19 strokes on the par 72, 5,996-yard course.

Host and 13th-ranked South Carolina had its best round of the tournament and the second lowest score of the day (300) as the Lady Gamecocks surged from seventh to third place in their own tournament. No. 11 Louisiana State finished second. This is Duke's fifth Lady Gamecock Classic title and the fourth in the last five years.

The Blue Devils, who had a 299 Sunday, extended their lead from one stroke (Friday) to 14 Saturday and had a final margin of 19 strokes over Louisiana State after 54 holes of play. Scores lowered significantly despite temperatures in the low 50s with seven teams posting scores of 311 or lower compared to just six teams combined in the first two days.

The Lady Gamecocks, after disappointing rounds of 317 and 320 the first two days, had all five of its players score in the 70s and finished with the second best score of the day at 300. Their three-day 937 total was 37 strokes off the lead and 18 strokes back of LSU. Florida (939) and Tennessee (943) rounded out the top five.

Louisiana State's Lizette Lee played steady golf throughout the entire tournament and captured medalist honors with a four-over 220 score after a three-over 75 Sunday. Lee was followed by Tennessee's Young-A Yang, who also had a 75 Sunday and finished two strokes back overall at 222. A trio of Duke players rounded out the top five, including Kalen Anderson (223), Beth Bauer (226) and Maria-Garcia Estrada (227).

For the second day in a row, the Lady Gamecocks got a great day from an individual playing for medalist honors only. Freshman Irmo native Kacy Thompson had a two-over 74 Sunday and finished tied for sixth place at 12-over 228. Sophomore Dallas Ambrose was USC's top team finisher at 17-over 233 (17th place). Senior Apryl Arrants improved her second round score by eight strokes with a 74 Sunday and finished tied for 23rd place at 236, while a pair of Carolina players ? senior Emma Lofgren and freshman Kristy McPherson ? finished tied for 25th place at 237. Junior Stefanie Reynolds dropped her second round score by 10 strokes with USC's best round of the day (73) and finished tied for 36th place at 241. Three more Carolina players played individually, including Sarah Kidd (243, 40th place), Kristin Ruble (245, 45th) and Abby Derman (247, 48th).


Lady Gamecock Classic
The University Club Blythewood, SC
FINAL RESULTS
Tournament Dates: 03/17 - 03/19
Par: 72
Yardage: 5996
Fin Team Scores
1 Duke University            309 292 299 900 +36
2 Louisiana State U.         310 305 304 919 +55
3 South Carolina, U of       317 320 300 937 +73
4 Florida, U. of             318 310 311 939 +75
5 Tennessee, U. of           312 314 317 943 +79
6 Mississippi St. U.         319 310 317 946 +82
7 North Carolina, U of       313 323 313 949 +85
8 Alabama, U. of             317 321 318 956 +92
9 Arkansas, U. of            323 322 313 958 +94
10 Furman University         328 330 304 962 +98
11 Texas A&M University      325 324 320 969 +105

Lady Gamecock Classic
The University Club Blythewood, SC
Tournament Dates: 03/17 - 03/19
FINAL RESULTS
* Individual
Par: 72
Yardage: 5996
Fin Name School Scores
 1 Lisette Lee LSU             73 72 75 220 +4
 2 Young-A Yang Tennessee      74 73 75 222 +6
 3 Kalen Anderson Duke         74 71 78 223 +7
 4 Beth Bauer Duke             79 73 74 226 +10
 5 Maria-Garcia Estrada Duke   79 74 74 227 +11
 6 Tina Howard LSU             76 75 77 228 +12
  *Kacy Thompson S Carolina    79 75 74 228 +12
 8 Amie Lehman Duke            77 74 78 229 +13
 9 Meredith Duncan LSU         80 75 75 230 +14
10 Marcy Newton N Carolina     73 82 76 231 +15
   Paula Carter Alabama        75 79 77 231 +15
   Sarah Johnston Alabama      78 78 75 231 +15
  *Kristina Engstrom Duke      80 76 75 231 +15
14 Paula Marti Florida         78 80 74 232 +16
15 Johanna Danielsson Arkansas 77 76 80 233 +17
   Stacey Burnett Furman       78 80 75 233 +17
   Dallas Ambrose S Carolina   77 77 79 233 +17
   Jeanne Cho Florida          79 76 78 233 +17
19 Candy Hannemann Duke        82 79 73 234 +18
   Marta Ostos Texas A&M       79 77 78 234 +18
21 Lina Thoren Miss. St.       79 78 78 235 +19
  *Stacey Bergman Tennessee    81 82 72 235 +19
23 Apryl Arrants S Carolina    80 82 74 236 +20
   Pia Josefsson Miss. St.     79 79 78 236 +20
25 Emma Lofgren S Carolina     83 79 75 237 +21
   Brittany Straza Florida     82 78 77 237 +21
   Kristy McPherson S Carolina 77 82 78 237 +21
   Anna Gertsson Miss. St.     83 77 77 237 +21
   Beth Lever N Carolina       80 79 78 237 +21
30 Christina Clausen Miss. St. 78 76 84 238 +22
   Samantha White Florida      79 76 83 238 +22
32 Tina Schneeberger Tennessee 82 77 80 239 +23
32 Lauren Baugh Arkansas       80 81 78 239 +23
34 Jennifer Perri Furman       82 82 76 240 +24
   Erin Simmons Tennessee      79 81 80 240 +24
36 Katy Wilkinson LSU          81 83 77 241 +25
   Stefanie Reynolds S Caro   85 83 73 241 +25
38 Heather Angell N Carolina   80 82 80 242 +26
   Anna Umemura Tennessee      77 83 82 242 +26
40 Mimi Epps Texas A&M         79 86 78 243 +27
   Vanessa Bell Alabama        81 77 85 243 +27
  *Sarah Kidd S Carolina       80 81 82 243 +27
43 Adrienne Mucci Arkansas     84 82 78 244 +28
   Brandi Jackson Furman       84 83 77 244 +28
45 Kelly Hanwell Arkansas      85 83 77 245 +29
   Anna Becker Texas A&M       83 80 82 245 +29
  *Kristin Ruble S Carolina    82 81 82 245 +29
48 *Abby Derman S Carolina     80 89 78 247 +31
49 Cimmie Shahan Furman        87 85 76 248 +32
   Kim Smith N Carolina        80 89 79 248 +32
   Jennifer Cates Texas A&M    84 81 83 248 +32
52 Tara Schultz Furman         84 85 80 249 +33
53 Abby Spector N Carolina     86 80 85 251 +35
54 Sarah Coleson Florida       84 86 82 252 +36
  *Jennifer Poth Texas A&M     82 87 83 252 +36
56 Lori Cate Alabama           83 87 83 253 +37
57 Kristy Kortuem Arkansas     82 84 88 254 +38
   Renata Almeida Miss. St.    85 83 86 254 +38
59 Carrie Cole Tennessee       82 89 84 255 +39
60 Jenny Bouvin Alabama        87 87 83 257 +41
61 McKenzie Dyslin Texas A&M   92 86 82 260 +44
62 *Lauren Shniderman Florida  85 84 93 262 +46
63 Erin Sarver LSU             86 92 92 270 +54