April 1, 2007
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF women's golf team saved its best round for last at the Ryder/Florida Women's Collegiate Golf Championship, shooting a 302 (+14) to tie for third in three-day event. Sophomore Stephanie Connelly (Pasadena, Md./The Pendleton School) helped lead the Golden Knights to their highest team finish of the season, earning all-tournament honors with her fifth-place showing (227, +11).
Connelly, a mid-year transfer from Ohio State, shot her second consecutive 74 (+2) to post the highest individual finish by a Knight this season.
USF won the 12-team tournament, overtaking Florida Southern, who led after the first two rounds. The Bulls finished with a 908 (+44), holding off the Lady Moccasins by 10 strokes (918, +54). The Knights (920, +56) shared third with Rollins College. The Bulls' Christie Jones (222, +6) won a playoff with Laura Fourdraine to capture medalist honors.
Freshman Sara Hurwitch (Potomac Falls, Va./Dominion) was one of four Knights to post their best rounds of the tournament on Sunday at Par 72, 6,210-yard layout at Don Shula's Golf Club and Resort. Hurwitch shot a 75 (+3) and finished with a three-day total of 228 (+12) to give the Knights a pair of top 10 finishers for the first time in a tournament this season. Hurwitch tied for sixth.
Classmate Leigh Crosby (Athens, Ga./Oconee) turned in a 75 (+3) after back-to-back 81's to open the tournament. Crosby moved up into 29th place by tournament's end. Fellow freshman Victoria Tomko recorded her highest finish of the season, tying for 13th with a three-round total of 234 (+16).
Sophomore Mayule Tomimbang (Kissimmee, Fla./Gateway) tied for 39th after a final-round score of 78 (+6), which was her best 18 holes of the tournament.
Next up for the Knights is the Conference USA Championship in Birmingham, Ala. The three-day, 54-hole event is scheduled for April 23-25 at the Limestone Springs Golf Club.
For the latest news and information on the Knights, tickets or apparel log on to www.ucfathletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports.
Team Leaderboard - (Final)Rank Team Totals1 USF 307-305-296 = 908 (+44)2 Florida Southern 298-313-307 = 918 (+54)3 UCF 309-309-302 = 920 (+56) Rollins College 307-312-301 = 920 (+56)5 Bethune-Cookman 312-309-313 = 934 (+70)6 FIU 309-317-318 = 944 (+80)7 FAU 320-316-310 = 946 (+82)8 Miami 318-310-325 = 953 (+89) Stetson 321-320-312 = 953 (+89)10 Lynn University 308-324-324 = 956 (+92)11 Barry 324-330-323 = 977 (+113)12 Jacksonville 343-327-317 = 987 (+123)
Individual LeaderboardRank Player (School) Total1 Christie Jones (USF) 77-73-72 = 222 (+6)2 Laura Fourdraine (Rollins) 74-76-72 = 222 (+6)3 Heather Burgner (Florida Southern) 72-79-73 = 224 (+8)4 Becky Dowell (Bethune-Cookman) 75-76-75 = 226 (+10)5 Stephanie Connelly (UCF) 79-74-74 = 227 (+11)
UCF Individuals (Place)Stephanie Connelly (5) 79-74-74 = 227 (+11)Sara Hurwitch (T6) 76-77-75 = 228 (+12)Victoria Tomko (T13) 75-77-80 = 232 (+16)Leigh Crosby (29) 81-81-75 = 237 (+21)Mayule Tomimbang (T39) 79-84-78 = 241 (+25)