Kent State Posts Eighth Consecutive Top Five Finish
3/23/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
ATHENS, Ga. No. 12 Kent State showed it belongs among the nation's elite, finishing tied for fifth with top-ranked Duke at the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic. Tenth-ranked Georgia defeated No. 6 Purdue on the second playoff hole to claim its own tournament title for the 13th time in the 36-year history of the event.
The Bulldogs and Boilermakers both finished the 54-hole event at 900, easily outdistancing No. 17 Alabama (912) and No. 6 Arkansas (916). Meanwhile, the Golden Flashes and No. 1 Blue Devils were two strokes farther back in fifth place meaning KSU has finished fifth or better in all eight events this year.
“We got off to a good start, but we just weren't able to sustain our momentum and finish the round off,” head coach Mike Morrow said. “We should be happy to finish tied with the top team in the country, but to be honest, we're a little disappointed. While we know we could have done better, to finish in the top five is a real testament to the ability of our team.”
Freshman Martina Gavier led KSU for the second straight day, putting together the team's low round of the tournament with a 73 to vault into a tie for 10th place at 225. Junior Kirby Dreher carded a 75 to finish at 230 and tie for 18th, while senior Kira Meixner tied for 24th at 232.
Purdue teammates Christel Boeljon and Maria Hernandez fired a 69 and 68, respectively, to tie for medalist honors at 218 (+2). The pair was two strokes ahead of Duke's Amanda Blumenherst and Alabama's Kathleeen Ekey who each came in at 220.
The Flashes are next in action when they wrap up the regular season at the Lady Buckeye Spring Invitational April 19-20 in Columbus.
36th Annual Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic
March 21-23
University of Georgia GC Athens, Ga.
Par 72 6,335 Yards
Final Scores
Team Standings
1. Georgia 302-300-298=900!
2. Purdue 302-303-295=900
3. Alabama 302-307-303=912
4. Arkansas 305-305-306=916
T5. Kent State 303-307-308=918
T5. Duke 314-300-304=918
7. Auburn 303-311-308=922
8. Wake Forest 309-312-306=927
9. LSU 297-316-315=928
10. Virginia 314-310-307=931
11. Tennessee 309-311-314=934
12. Florida State 317-316-307=940
13. South Carolina 316-319-307=942
14. Furman 318-314-312=944
15. Texas A & M 317-313-319=949
16. Vanderbilt 316-321-319=956
17. Central Florida 315-323-319=957
18. Kentucky 339-325-309=973
! Won on second playoff hole
Individual Leaders
T1. Christel Boeljon, Purdue 74-75-69=218
T1. Maria Hernandez, Purdue 76-74-68=218
T3. Amanda Blumenherst, Duke 74-72-74=220
T3. Kathleen Ekey, Alabama 75-74-71=220
5. Calle Nielson, Virginia 78-72-72=222
Kent State Individuals
T10. Martina Gavier 78-74-73=225
T18. Kirby Dreher 76-79-75=230
T24. Kira Meixner 75-77-80=232
T40. Tara Delaney 75-77-83=235
T50. Maddi Swaney 77-80-80=237
T90. Christina Thomas 89-82-87=258*
* Competed as an individual
The Bulldogs and Boilermakers both finished the 54-hole event at 900, easily outdistancing No. 17 Alabama (912) and No. 6 Arkansas (916). Meanwhile, the Golden Flashes and No. 1 Blue Devils were two strokes farther back in fifth place meaning KSU has finished fifth or better in all eight events this year.
“We got off to a good start, but we just weren't able to sustain our momentum and finish the round off,” head coach Mike Morrow said. “We should be happy to finish tied with the top team in the country, but to be honest, we're a little disappointed. While we know we could have done better, to finish in the top five is a real testament to the ability of our team.”
Freshman Martina Gavier led KSU for the second straight day, putting together the team's low round of the tournament with a 73 to vault into a tie for 10th place at 225. Junior Kirby Dreher carded a 75 to finish at 230 and tie for 18th, while senior Kira Meixner tied for 24th at 232.
Purdue teammates Christel Boeljon and Maria Hernandez fired a 69 and 68, respectively, to tie for medalist honors at 218 (+2). The pair was two strokes ahead of Duke's Amanda Blumenherst and Alabama's Kathleeen Ekey who each came in at 220.
The Flashes are next in action when they wrap up the regular season at the Lady Buckeye Spring Invitational April 19-20 in Columbus.
36th Annual Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic
March 21-23
University of Georgia GC Athens, Ga.
Par 72 6,335 Yards
Final Scores
Team Standings
1. Georgia 302-300-298=900!
2. Purdue 302-303-295=900
3. Alabama 302-307-303=912
4. Arkansas 305-305-306=916
T5. Kent State 303-307-308=918
T5. Duke 314-300-304=918
7. Auburn 303-311-308=922
8. Wake Forest 309-312-306=927
9. LSU 297-316-315=928
10. Virginia 314-310-307=931
11. Tennessee 309-311-314=934
12. Florida State 317-316-307=940
13. South Carolina 316-319-307=942
14. Furman 318-314-312=944
15. Texas A & M 317-313-319=949
16. Vanderbilt 316-321-319=956
17. Central Florida 315-323-319=957
18. Kentucky 339-325-309=973
! Won on second playoff hole
Individual Leaders
T1. Christel Boeljon, Purdue 74-75-69=218
T1. Maria Hernandez, Purdue 76-74-68=218
T3. Amanda Blumenherst, Duke 74-72-74=220
T3. Kathleen Ekey, Alabama 75-74-71=220
5. Calle Nielson, Virginia 78-72-72=222
Kent State Individuals
T10. Martina Gavier 78-74-73=225
T18. Kirby Dreher 76-79-75=230
T24. Kira Meixner 75-77-80=232
T40. Tara Delaney 75-77-83=235
T50. Maddi Swaney 77-80-80=237
T90. Christina Thomas 89-82-87=258*
* Competed as an individual
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