Sept. 30, 2008

MONROE, La. - The Samford University women's golf team earned the championship title at the 2008 Fred Marx Invitational on Tuesday as the Bulldogs turned in a final-round score of 296 to finish in first place at the Bayou Desiard Country Club. Samford won the 11-team tournament by 21 strokes.

"I am so proud of this team and the way they played," said Samford head coach Woodie Eubanks. "They have been playing really well this season and they have made great strides as a team. This was a good championship for us to win and we'll celebrate it for a couple of days, but then we have to get ready for a really good New Mexico State Tournament."

Samford's third-round score of 296 set a course record at the Bayou Desiard Country Club on Tuesday. The Bulldogs have shattered a number of records this season, including the 18-hole, 36-hole and 54-hole marks at this year's Fred Marx Invitational hosted by the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

Samford carded a final team score of 896, while Central Arkansas placed second in the event with a 917.

En route to its first-place finish, Samford concluded the two-day competition with three players placing in the top 10.

Senior Maria Troche birdied the final two holes Tuesday and finished in a tie for fourth-place overall (75-76-73-224). She paced the Bulldogs in the tournament and fired an impressive 1-over 73 in the third round.

Samford's Katelyn Stanier placed sixth in the tournament with a final score of 225 (78-73-74), while Sara Hunt finished tied for seventh after carding a three-round total of 228 (73-78-77). The Bulldogs' Heather Arnold turned in the team's best score of the day with an even-par 72 to finish the tournament in 13th place (86-72-72-230).

True freshman Sarah Butts concluded the 2008 Fred Marx Invitational with a final score of 239 (76-77-86).

"We are playing some really good golf right now and I think it's because of all the hard work that our players have put in," Eubanks said. "All of our players are competing well and we have the ability to accomplish some big things this season. I'm proud of how we played this week and I hope that we can keep it up in the future."

The Samford University women's golf team will next be in action Oct. 13-15, as the Bulldogs travel to Las Cruces, N.M., to compete in the 2008 New Mexico State Invitational.