Feb. 26, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford women's golf team made history Tuesday as they won the 2008 Ann Rhoads BSC Shootout hosted by Birmingham-Southern at Timberline Golf Course in Calera, Ala. The win is the first for the Bulldog women in school history and Head Coach Woodie Eubanks could not be more pleased.

"I'm so proud of the way our girls played in this tournament," said Eubanks. "This win makes me even more excited about the season and it's such a great thing for our girls to be a part of history like this."

The Bulldogs were just one stroke shy of the lead after the first round on Monday and improved one stroke in play Tuesday, while leader Murray State fell 10 strokes to give Samford the number one spot. Samford shot a team average on Tuesday of 317, bringing its tournament score to 635. The Bulldogs finished ahead of two tough conference opponents and a cross-town rival that they have never beaten. Rounding out the top five teams were Murray State, Tennessee Tech, Birmingham-Southern and Berry College.

Junior Maria Troche led the Bulldogs on Tuesday, capturing a tie at ninth place after being tied for 15th place on at the end of round one. Troche improved three strokes in round two, shooting 78 on the day to bring her tournament total to 158.

The rest of the Samford playing five climbed all the way up into the top 26 players to secure the Bulldogs the number one spot. Heather Arnold, who sat at 28th place on Monday, climbed 17 spots to a tie for 11th place, improving five strokes to 77 (159) in round two. After round one, Katelyn Stanier held a tie for fifth place, but the tough conditions of the day took their toll on Stanier as she fell 10 spots to a tie for 15th place, shooting 84 on the day.

Rounding out the playing five were Kellie O'Connell and Sara Hunt. O'Connell climbed nine spots to a tie for 15th place as she 83 in round two. Hunt improved 21 spots and six strokes to bring her two-day total to 164 (85-79) and land her in a tie at 26th place.

The individuals for Samford were Courtney Warr, Stephanie Larson and Brooke Barriento. Warr improved from tenth place on Monday to seventh place on Tuesday, shooting double rounds of 78 (156). Larson landed in a tie for 57th place, shooting 174 in the tournament while Barriento placed 65th, shooting 180 over the two days of play.

The Bulldogs are back in action on the greens next Monday and Tuesday, March 3-4, in the USA Lady Jaguar Invitational hosted by South Alabama.

1 Samford University 318-317 = 635
T9 Maria Troche 80-78 = 158
T11 Heather Arnold 82-77 = 159
T 15 Katelyn Stanier 76-84 = 160
T24 Kellie O'Connell 80-83 = 163
T26 Sara Hunt 85-79 = 164

Individuals
7 Courtney Warr 78-78 = 156
T57 Stephanie Larson 83-91 = 174
T69 Brooke Barriento 89-91 = 180