Stockbridge, Ga.–Kent State shot a final round 302, the lowest of the tournament, to overcome an eight-stroke deficit to claim the 20th annual John Kirk Panther Intercollegiate at Eagle's Landing Country Club in Stockbridge on Tuesday afternoon.
Old Dominion's Kimberley Bradbury shot a final round 5-over 77 to claim the individual title by three strokes, finishing the tournament at 7-over par.
This marked the 13th season that the tournament has been played at Eagle's Landing Country Club, the home of the Georgia State golf teams.
Although the wind finally died down on Tuesday, conditions remained tough as snow flurries scattered the course, leading to an 82.08 scoring average for the field.
Host Georgia State finished tied for third, as three Panthers finished in the top 25. GSU finished the tournament with a final round 27-over 314 to tie James Madison at 81-over. Old Dominion finished second at 78-over, while Samford rounded out the top five, finishing at 96-over.
“I would just like to thank Eagle's Landing Country Club, the Georgia State staff, all of the volunteers and everyone else who made this tournament a success in cold and difficult conditions,” commented head coach Cathy Mant. “Congratulations to Kent State on winning the tournament for the second time and to ODU's Kimberley Bradbury on playing some excellent golf to win individual honors.
“Our team fought hard during the last few days and gave us everything that they had. I saw some progress given the conditions and hope that we can use that going into our last two events.”
Junior Laura Sanchez posted a career-best fourth place finish, shooting a final round 75 to finish at 16-over. The result marked the first top 10 finish of Sanchez' career.
Junior Melissa Siviter finished tied for 12th following a final round 74, finishing at 22-over and also earning a career-best finish.
Junior Maria Palacios shot 82 on Tuesday and finished tied for 15th at 23-over, while senior Kimmy Graff shot a final round 84 to finish alone in 36th.
Freshman Julie Lied rounded out the Panthers line-up, shooting 93 on Tuesday to finish tied for 56th.
Junior Solveig Helgesen, competing as an individual, earned a career-best finish, tying for eighth at 19-over following a final round 82.
Sophomore Lauren Court shot a final round 84, finishing in 64th place at 41-over.
Following ODU's Bradbury in second place was Kent State's Jennifer Ha who shot a final round 1-under 71, finishing at 10-over. James Madison's Maria Andrea Legaspi finished alone in third at 13-over after a final round 77. Sanchez finished fourth for GSU, followed by Jacksonville's Natalie Schmett in fifth at 17-over following a 78 on Tuesday.
Georgia State will return to the course for one final regular season event, the UNCW Lady Seahawk Classic, April 6-7 in Wilmington, N.C.
www.GeorgiaStateSports.com
