With three golfers playing even-par 72 golf, the University of West Florida was able to erase a seven-stroke Lee lead in the final round and claim the 2016 Gulf South Conference Women’s Golf Championship on Tuesday afternoon on the Robert Trent Jones at the Shoals links.
While the Lady Flames were playing a consistent round of 298 (10-over par), the Lady Argonauts turned on the heat with a 2-over (290) to wrestle the title away by one stroke from the heart-broken Lee squad. The Lady Flames final 54-hole total stands at 897 and West Florida at 896.
Seniors Callie Kitchens and Bernadette Little paced the Lee scoring on Tuesday, both had rounds of 74.
Caroline Moore, Cailey Gino and Sam Burrus finished with 75s. Moore took second place in the medalist competition with an overall 221. Kitchens (222) finished in a tie for third. Both earned spots on the all-tournament team. Gino’s tied for ninth (227), while Burrus posted a 228.
"Our girls played outstanding this week,” commented coach John Maupin. “Most of the time when you have a seven-shot lead, and go out and shoot your best round of the week it will be good enough to win. Unfortunately, it was West Florida’s day and you just have to congratulate them on a great round.
"We feel strongly that our season will continue via an at-large bid to NCAA post-season play. We will bounce back and be prepared to play our best. I am extremely proud of our team this week,” added Maupin.
Paloma Vaccoro, Lauren Lamm and Elin Olsson each carded a 72 for the winners. Johanna Nevalainen tallied a 74.
While West Florida placed first and Lee second, the University of West Alabama was third, Shorter fourth and the University of West Georgia fifth in the field of eight teams.
"West Florida has been the dominant team in this league,” the Lee coach pointed out. “I think our girls showed a lot in our first year of eligibility. We gave them all they wanted."
Photo: Caroline Moore (far left) and Callie Kitchens (4th from left) were Lee players named to the GSC All Tournament team