STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. – Georgia State senior Maria Palacios made a birdie on the first playoff hole to earn low medalist honors of the 21st annual John Kirk Panther Intercollegiate at Eagle's Landing Country Club on Tuesday afternoon. She led the Panthers to a second place finish as Campbell took the team title for the fifth time in tournament history.
Palacios shot a final-round 72 to tie with Campbell's Kaylin Yost and Georgia's Amira Alexander at 2-under par, the only three golfers to break par for the 54-hole event. In the playoff, Palacios drained a birdie putt before Yost and Alexander were able to finish.
Campbell shot a final-round 2-under 286, the second lowest round in tournament history, to finish at 12-over (876) which set a new three-round tournament scoring record.
“I am so proud that Maria was able to get the win in front of our family and friends,” head coach Cathy Mant said. “She has had a great senior year and this is the perfect way to end the regular season.
“We tip our cap to Campbell as they played really great golf all week. Obviously we would have liked to have won, but we played well and I think we gave ourselves some momentum heading into the conference tournament in two weeks.”
Georgia State shot a final-round 303 to finish the event 27-over. Troy finished in third at 42-over, followed by Middle Tennessee in fourth at 43-over. Mercer shot a final-round 294 to finish tied for fifth with Kennesaw State at 48-over.
Junior Lauren Court shot a final-round 75 to finish alone in seventh place at 5-over. She finished strong with three birdies on the back nine to shoot 34 coming in.
Senior Laura Sanchez also shot a final-round 75 and finished tied for 15th at 9-over. Sanchez made three birdies on the last day of the event.
Sophomore Julie Lied shot a 9-over 81 to finish at 15-over and tied for 29th while senior Melissa Siviter shot a 10-over 82 to finish 25-over and tied for 56th.
Senior Solveig Helgesen along with freshmen Solene LeCoz and Jooeun Bae competed as individuals for the Panthers.
LeCoz shot a final-round 81 to finish at 18-over and tied for 39th while Bae finishing tied for 49th at 21-over following a final-round 75 that included four birdies.
Helgesen rounded out the line-up at 28-over par and tied for 67th in the 90-player field following a final-round 80.
Kennesaw's State Kaew Preamchuen and UALR's Sofie Kvarnstrom finished tied for fifth at 3-over, five strokes off the lead.
The John Kirk Panther Intercollegiate was first played in 1993 at Northwood Country Club, the home of the Panthers until 1999. The tournament was founded by then-Georgia State golf coach Kevin Propst and assistant Kirk McQueen with extensive help and support from Northwood County Club club pro John Kirk. When John Kirk passed away after a battle with cancer, his name was added to the Panther Intercollegiate to honor his assistance and commitment to the Georgia State women's golf program.
After one year at Chateau Elan Golf Club in 2000, the John Kirk Panther Intercollegiate moved to Eagle's Landing Country Club in Stockbridge, Ga. and has remained there ever since.
The Panthers have now had four individuals win the event, most recently Cathrine Madsen in 2010 before Palacios' win today.
Georgia State will return to the course for the Sun Belt Conference Championship at Steelwood Country Club in Loxley, Ala., April 14-16.