May 10, 2008
Athens, Ga. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF women's golf team finished in 17th place at the NCAA East Regional, bringing a close to the squad's best season since the 2002 campaign. The Knights posted their best round of the tournament on Saturday, carding a 307 (+18) to tie in the team standings with Tennessee.
Junior May Tomimbang (Kissimmee, Fla.) led the efforts with the best round of her UCF career, firing a 70 (-2) on the 6,335-yard layout at the University of Georgia Golf Course to finish as the top Knight in the field. Tomimbang had five birdies during her round, which was the fourth best of the day in the field of 108 golfers.
"We did not play exactly how we wanted too, but we hung in there and I'm really proud of the season we had," head coach Emilee Klein said. "This was our first trip to regionals under my watch and it was a great experience. We can build on this for next year so we can make another run at nationals."
Junior Stephanie Connelly (Pasadena, Md.) posted her best round of the tournament with a final round 77 (+5). Connelly and Tomimbang helped the Knights improve five strokes from their second round total and seven from the first round total to finish the 54-hole event with a team score of 929 (+65).
Sophomore Leigh Crosby (Athens, Ga.) posted a 79 (+7) and freshman Jessy Tang (Miami, Fla.) carded an 81 (+9) to round out the scoring for the Knights in the final round.
Fifth-ranked Florida edged Duke to claim the team title at the event, while South Carolina's Benedicte Toumpsin earned medalist honors with a three-day total of 214 (-2). The Gators claimed the championship with a three-round score of 883 (+19), one shot better than the top-ranked Blue Devils (884, +20).
Joining Florida and Duke from the East Regional field at the NCAA Championship on May 20-23 in Albuquerque, N.M., will be Georgia, Auburn, Virginia, South Carolina, Wake Forest and Furman. New Mexico missed qualifying for the tournament on its home course by just one stroke.
The Knights concluded their 2007-08 season in regional action for the first time since the 2002 South Regional in Baton Rouge, La.
Team Leaderboard (Final Round)
1 Florida 290-295-298 = 883 (+19)
2 Duke 285-303-296 = 884 (+20)
3 Georgia 299-300-290 = 889 (+25)
4 Auburn 296-302-296 = 894 (+30)
5 Virginia 296-310-292 = 898 (+34)
6 South Carolina 291-303-305 = 899 (+35)
Wake Forest 298-305-296 = 899 (+35)
8 Furman 292-307-301 = 900 (+36)
Individual Leaderboard (Final Round)
1 Benedicte Toumpsin (South Carolina) 68-70-76 = 214 (-2)
2 Amanda Blumenherst (Duke) 68-73-74 = 215 (-1)
Sara-Maude Juneau (Louisville) 67-74-74 = 215 (-1)
4 Krystle Caithness (Georgia) 70-73-74 = 217 (+1)
Cydney Clanton (Auburn) 70-75-72 = 217 (+1)
Alexandra Phelps (New Mexico) 71-73-73 = 217 (+1)
UCF Players (Final Round)
May Tomimbang 77-79-70 = 226 (+10)
Jessy Tang 74-79-80 = 233 (+17)
Leigh Crosby 81-77-79 = 237 (+21)
Stephanie Connelly 80-82-77 = 239 (+23)
Katie Detlefsen 82-76-84 = 242 (+26)
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