Sept. 16, 2008

2008 Cougar Classic- Final Round

NEW ORLEANS -The Tulane women's golf team turned its first fall outing in over three years into a memorable experience as the Green Wave improved its score for the third straight day with a four-over par total of 292 and finished in 10th place among 22 teams at the 2008 Cougar Classic in Hanahan, S.C.

With a line-up comprised of two sophomores and three freshmen, the Green Wave had a different player step up to the challenge each day at the par 72 Yeamans Hall Golf Club. On day one it was freshman Ashley McKenney with a one-over par 73. During second round action on Monday, freshman Samantha Troyanovich fired an identical one-over par 73. Today, sophomore Janine Fellows stood out and helped move Tulane from 13th place on Sunday to a 10th place during the final round.

"Today's final round was very exciting and I thought the team played great," Tulane head coach John Thomas Horton said. "We shot the sixth-lowest round of the day against some pretty good teams, so I am very happy with our finish. This tournament is a good first start and gives us experience to build on for the future. This was a great week for a young team."

Fellows, who was eight-over par entering the final round, played even-par golf on 10 holes, but collected three bogeys at the Nos. 6, 9 and 14 holes. However, five birdies at holes 3, 7, 10, 15 and 18 proved to be the difference. McKenney was TU's most consistent player throughout her first collegiate tournament, as she carded a three-day total of four-over par 220 to the clubhouse, including an even-par performance today. McKenney notched a 26th-place finish while Fellows was just six spots back at 32nd.

The shot of the day went to Troyanovich, who recorded and eagle on the par-five seventh hole. She finished the day two-over par and was 59th overall. Freshman Daniela Holmqvist turned in a four-over par 76 today, which was good enough for a 55th-place finish. Sophomore Linn Gustafsson matched her opening day total with a six-over par 78 and finished in the 76th spot.

"Janine finished two-under par today and I thought she played extremely well and really hit the ball great. She really bounced back from her first day total and played a phenomenal final round. Ashley played well the entire tournament and put together a good start to her college career, and I thought Samantha played another solid round today and had a good comeback after shooting an 82 in her first round," Horton said.

Georgia captured team honors with a six-under par total of 858 for the three-day event. The Bulldogs finished five strokes ahead of second place Alabama and were 14 strokes better than third place North Carolina. Virginia (874) finished one stroke ahead of Florida State (875) to round out the top five teams.

Florida State's Caroline Westrup took home individual medalist honors with a 10-under par total of 206 for the tournament. Westrup fired a six-under par 66 today to lead all players and finished two strokes ahead of Whitney Neuhauser of Virginia for the event.

Tulane returns to action for its second tournament of the fall at the Badger Invitational at the University Ridge Golf Club in Madison, Wisc., Sept. 27-28.

Tulane (10th)	            303-300-292=995 (+31)
Ashley McKenney (T-26)	    73-75-72=220 (+4)
Janine Fellows (T-32)	    77-75-70=222 (+6)
Daniela Holmqvist (T-55)    75-77-76=228 (+12)
Samantha Troyanovich (T-59) 82-73-74=229 (+13)
Linn Gustafsson (T-76)	    78-77-78=233 (+17)