ONEONTA, Ala. -- Despite a small stumble on day two of the 2010 Samford Invitational on Tuesday, dropping Western Kentucky University back one spot into a seventh place finish, the Lady Toppers turned in their best finish in eight-straight years of competing in the tournament.
The 54-hole event was contested at the 5,880-yard, par 72 Limestone Spring Golf Club in Oneonta, Ala. and hosted by Samford University. The course was designed by former PGA Tour star and renowned architect Jerry Pate. WKU placed 14th last season in the 2009 edition.
Defending champion Jacksonville State (+40) overcame a nine-shot deficit entering Tuesday's final round to pass day one leader South Alabama (+46) for their second-consecutive Samford Invitational crown. The host Lady Bulldogs (+46) moved into a tie for second with the Lady Jaguars after a final round total of 296, just one shy of Jacksonville State's tournament-best 295. ULM (+53) and UAB (+68) remained unchanged in fourth and fifth places while Tennessee Tech (+82) hopped over WKU (+84) by two strokes to claim sixth.
Fanny Eineren of South Alabama completed a wire-to-wire victory in the individual standings, firing a final round 74. Eineren blistered the Limestone Springs course for a two-day total of three-under-par 213, five shots clear of the field. ULM's Angela Drane finished as runner-up at two-over-par 218.
Kristen Wilkinson was poised to post her first career top five finish, but a final round 83 dropped the Glasgow, Ky. product into a tie for 15th at 16-over-par. It was still the freshman's third-straight top 20.
Senior Emily Wolff signed for a team-low 76 on Tuesday to tie for 22nd at 18-over-par. It was her best final round since claiming Murray State Drake Creek Invitational medalist honors in the season-opener.
Dawn Wientjes carded an 84 to place 30th while Kelsey Burrell improved her score for the third-consecutive round, firing a 79 to move up four spots into a tie for 40th. Amy O'Connell finished with an 81 to tie for 43rd.
WKU will next compete in the Mimosa Hills Intercollegiate on April 5-6 in Morgantown, N.C. and hosted by Western Carolina. The Lady Toppers placed ninth out of 10 teams in last year's tournament.
2010 SAMFORD INVITATIONAL
LIMESTONE SPRINGS G.C. ONEONTA, ALA.
PAR: 72 YARDAGE: 5,880 DATES: MARCH 15-16
TEAM RESULTS
1 Jacksonville State...................306 303 295 904 +40
2 Samford....................................305 309 296 910 +46
South Alabama...........................304 296 310 910 +46
4 ULM..........................................306 309 302 917 +53
5 UAB..........................................314 307 311 932 +68
6 Tennessee Tech......................315 318 313 946 +82
7 WKU..........................................317 312 319 948 +84
8 Belmont....................................323 326 329 978 +114
9 Evansville................................327 327 328 982 +118
10 Tennessee State...................309 408 382 1180 +316
11 Montevallo.............................DNF DNF DNF DNF
WKU INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (+84) (7th)
Kristen Wilkinson........................75 74 83 232 +16 (T-15th)
Emily Wolff...................................78 80 76 234 +18 (T-22nd)
Dawn Wientjes.............................81 77 84 242 +26 (30th)
Kelsey Burrell..............................87 81 79 247 +31 (T-40th)
Amy O'Connell............................83 85 81 249 +33 (T-43rd)
INDIVIDUAL WINNER(S)
Fanny Eineren, So. Alabama.......69 70 74 213 -3 (1st)
