The 32nd-ranked Georgia State University women's golf team claimed a tie for fourth with a three-round score of 927 (+63) at the Pinehurst Challenge, while freshman Iliska Verwey was the Panthers' top finisher in sixth after a third-round score of 75 (+3) at Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, N.C. on Tuesday.
Georgia State shot a final-round score of 300 (+12) to move from a tie for seventh into a tie for fourth along with Oregon State and UNC Greensboro, finishing ahead of nine teams ranked in the top 100 in the 21-team field. State's round of 300 marked the team's lowest round in three days and the third-lowest team round in the Pinehurst Challenge on Pinehurst #8, a par-72, 5,968-yard layout.
With their finish, the Panthers have now finished sixth or better in each tournament in the 2007-08 season.
While Verwey paced State individually in each of the first two rounds, a pair of Panthers scored better than the 60th-ranked freshman in the first round; redshirt junior Anna Scott carded a third-round score of 73 (+1) to climb from 28th into a tie for 16th, while redshirt freshman Sandra Maier posted a final-round score of 74 (+2) to move from 77th into 54th. In addition, sophomore Nicole Loesch finished in a tie for 32nd with a three-round score of 235 (+19) and fellow sophomore Cathrine Madsen tied for 66th with a 242 (+26).
"Today, we played the way I expected us to all weekend," said Georgia State head coach Cathy Mant. "With the early-round weather on a challenging course, this was a tough tournament. But, as the conditions improved the girls played better and we were able to move up the board. We still left some shots on the course and need to improve before the conference championship. However, I was very pleased with our performance today."
For the tournament, Scott tied for second best in par-three scoring at 2.92 (-1) and tied for the fifth-most pars in the tournament with 33. Verwey tied for sixth best in par-four scoring at 4.27 (+8). As a team, the Panthers were second-best in par-five scoring at 5.12 (+7) and in team birdies, with 25.
At Pinehurst, the Panthers competed against their third Colonial Athletic Association opponent of the season in James Madison, who the Panthers defeated by 26 strokes. Previously, the Panthers downed Xavier in the Napa River Grill Cardinal Cup and Old Dominion at the Unlimited Potential/Myrtle Beach Classic.
Georgia State now heads home to prepare to play host at the 2008 John Kirk/Panther Intercollegiate at Eagle's Landing Country Club on March 31.
"Today gave us some confidence we can play well and will give us a good base to prepare from for the John Kirk," added Mant. "We're excited to get home to practice and prepare for our home event."
John Kirk/Panther Intercollegiate preview information will be posted on GeorgiaStateSports.com leading up to the tournament.
Georgia State Individual Scores:
6th - Iliska Verwey - 77-74-75 - 226, +10
T16th - Anna Scott - 81-76-73 - 230, +14
T32nd - Nicole Loesch - 78-79-78 -235, +19
T54th - Sandra Maier - 85-80-74 - 239, +23
T66th - Cathrine Madsen - 82-82-78 - 242, +26
Team Scores:
1 - East Carolina Univ. - 313-302-295 - 910
2 - East Tennessee State - 307-304-309 - 920
3 - Augusta State U. - 323-301-300 - 924
4 - Georgia State Univ. - 318-309-300 - 927
Oregon State U. - 321-303-303 - 927
N. Car.- Greensboro - 313-307-307 - 927
7 - Tenn.-Chattanooga - 311-309-309 - 929
8 - Charleston, Coll. of - 317-310-308 - 935
9 - Maryland, U. of - 323-315-298 - 936
10 - South Florida - 319-311-310 - 940
Coastal Carolina U. - 326-308-306 - 940
12 - Western Carolina U. - 327-309-307 - 943
13 -- Boise State Univ. - 314-318-314 - 946
14 - Jacksonville St. - 331-315-306 - 952
Stetson University - 327-316-309 - 952
16 - James Madison Univ. - 327-312-314 - 953
17 - Texas State Univ. - 322-317-320 - 959
18 - Penn State Univ. - 324-322-316 - 962
Memphis, Univ. of - 330-329-303 - 962
20 - Charleston Southern - 338-325-315 - 978
