Women's Golf Charges Back, Finishes Second at Notre Dame's Warren Invite
10/3/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Kent State women's golf team turned in a gutsy and determined performance Sunday in the final round of the William K. Warren Invitational, hosted by Notre Dame. Trailing the lead by nine strokes heading into Sunday's round, the Golden Flashes managed to pull within a stroke late, but could not turn the corner and finished five strokes behind champion Notre Dame.
"We did really well today battling back," said head coach Mike Morrow. "We got pretty close and almost got there at the end. We played better as a team today, and it's good to end on a positive note."
Senior Martina Gavier (Cordoba, Argentina) carded a trio of birdies on the back nine and five on the day on the way to a one-under 71, which moved her up to fourth overall.
Kent State started the third round with solid play and stayed even through the first four holes. That steady start pulled KSU within six strokes of Notre Dame's lead early; aiding in the cause was junior Shamira Marshall (Macedonia, Ohio), who was one-under through her first six holes. Marshall finished with a two-over 74, pushing her up to a tie for 17th.
Untimely bogeys pulled Kent State back until late in the final round, when Kent State battled and pulled to within one stroke of Notre Dame's lead in the final three holes. But the Irish shot one-under par through holes 16-18 to pull away.
Junior Mandi Morrow (Kent, Ohio) moved up 13 places to a tie for 29th overall with a steady four-over 76 in the final round, while senior Sarah Bradley (Cambridge, New Zealand) advanced 12 spots on the leader board and a tie for 38th with a five-over 77, her lowest round of the tournament.
"The competition brought the best out of us; our games were a little sharper today," said Morrow.
Junior Mercedes Germino (Necochea, Argentina) finished tied for eighth after shooting a six-over 78 Sunday.
Playing as an unattached individual, freshman Erin Hawe (Walton, New Zealand) tallied a nine-over 81 on Sunday, good for a tie for 42nd place in her first collegiate action.
Louisville's Sara-Maude Juneau captured medalist honors after shooting a three-under 69 in Sunday's final round to post a one-under 215 and win by three strokes.
Kent State continues the fall portion of its schedule next weekend at the Mercedes Benz Championship at Holston Hills Country Club in Knoxville, Tenn.
Kent State 305-307-298=910
4 Martina Gavier 74-76-71=221
T8 Mercedes Germino 75-73-78=226
T18 Shamira Marshall 76-81-74=231
T30 Mandi Morrow 80-79-76=235
T39 Sarah Bradley 81-79-77=237
Team scores
1. Notre Dame 305-298-302=905
2. Kent State 305-307-298=910
3. Ohio State 307-298-316=921
T4. Louisville 309-311-305=925
T4. Illinois 312-311-302=925
6. Georgia State 320-299-307=926
7. Indiana 311-301-371=929
8. Toledo 307-308-315=930
9. Kentucky 312-306-314=932
10. Michigan 316-308-312=936
11. Maryland 315-308-318=941
12. UT San Antonio 312-314-320=946
13. Cincinnati 314-322-327=963
