April 25, 2007
Oneonta, Ala. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF women's golf team finished in a three-way tie for third as the Conference USA Championship came to a close in Oneonta, Ala., on Wednesday. The Knights were led for the second straight day by the strong play of sophomore Stephanie Connelly (Pasadena, Md./The Pendleton School), who carded her low round of the spring season and the lowest round of the season by a Knight with a 71 (-1).
UCF improved its team scores in each of the three rounds at the Limestrone Spring Golf Club capping off the tournament with a 306 (+18). A mid-year transfer from Ohio State, Connelly birdied two of the first three holes to help her claim fourth overall with a three-day total of 224 (+8). Connelly's fourth-place showing earned her all-tournament honors and was the highest finish by a Knight this season.
"We played our best, just came up a little bit short at the end," head coach Emilee Klein said. "We're happy for Memphis, but a little disappointed in ourselves. We really played well early in the round today, but we struggled a little bit coming in. We really wanted it, just made a few too many mistakes."
Four of the five Knights birdied hole No. 2 in the final round as the team got off to a fast start this morning. The team was five-under par through three holes and was within striking distance with three holes to play.
UCF shared third with UTEP and SMU as the trio of teams each posted a three-day total of 922 (+58). Memphis won the team title thanks in large part to senior Stacey Tate, who went three-under par in her final three holes to give the Tigers (912, +48) a two-stroke victory over reigning C-USA champion East Carolina (914, +50).
UTEP's Gerina Mendoza earned medalist honors as she led the tournament from wire-to-wire with a three-round score of 207 (-9). Tate took second after a final round 68 (-4) as she closed the tournament with a tally of 212 (-4).
UCF junior Annabel Silk (West Meon, England/Millfield) finished just outside the top 10 as she tied for 11th with a score of 230 (+14). Silk posted a 77 (+5) in her final round that included an eagle when she holed out her approach shot on No. 3, a par 4, 361-yard hole.
Freshman Sara Hurwitch (Potomac Falls, Va./Dominion) was the next Knight finisher, tying for 14th with a three-day aggregate of 234 (+18). Hurwitch posted a 79 (+7) in the final round.
Sophomore Mayule Tomimbang (Kissimmee, Fla./Gateway), who closed the tournament with a 77 (+5), gave the Knights four finishers in the top 20 as she tied for 17th with a total of 236 (+20). Freshman Victoria Tomko finished alone in 24th with a three-day total of 240 (+24). Tomko birdied two of her first three holes en route to a 79 (+7).
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Team Leaderboard - (Final)Rank Team Totals1 Memphis 310-297-305 = 912 (+48)2 East Carolina 314-302-298 = 914 (+50)3 UCF 309-307-306 = 922 (+58) UTEP 308-302-312 = 922 (+58) SMU 308-309-305 = 922 (+58)6 Tulsa 315-310-310 = 935 (+71)7 Marshall 325-323-318 = 966 (+102)8 Southern Miss 328-321-318 = 967 (+103)9 UAB 326-329-329 = 984 (+120)
Individual LeaderboardRank Player (School) Total1 Gerina Mendoza (UTEP) 68-68-71 = 207 (-9)2 Stacey Tate (Memphis) 73-71-68 = 212 (-4)3 Kate Ackerson (SMU) 73-75-75 = 223 (+7)4 Stephanie Connelly (UCF) 80-73-71 = 224 (+8)5 Lene Krog (East Carolina) 75-76-74 = 151 (+9) Jennifer Ackerson (SMU) 77-75-73 = 225 (+9)
UCF Individuals (Place) TotalStephanie Connelly (4) 80-73-71 = 224 (+8)Annabel Silk (T11) 74-79-77 = 230 (+14)Sara Hurwitch (T12) 77-78-79 = 234 (+18)Mayule Tomimbang (T17) 80-77-79 = 236 (+20)Victoria Tomko (24) 78-83-79 = 240 (+24)