Oct. 15, 2008

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The Samford University women's golf team carded a third-round score of 321 on Wednesday to finish the 2008 Price's "Give `Em Five" Intercollegiate in 17th place at the New Mexico State University Golf Course.

The Bulldogs finished the three-day competition with a total team score of 957 (320-316-321), just one stroke shy of 16th-place Eastern Washington. Samford's third-round score of 321 was its worst of the tournament.

Leading the Bulldogs on Wednesday was senior Maria Troche. Samford's experienced native of Asuncion, Paraguay, fired a third-round score of 77, her best of the Price's "Give `Em Five" Intercollegiate. Troche improved in every round of the competition and finished the event with a final score of 249 (88-84-77).

Samford's Sara Hunt turned in the team's best overall score of the three-day tournament as she fired a 54-hole total of 230 (74-75-81). The Bulldogs' junior from Columbia, Tenn., finished the competition as the 32nd-ranked player in the individual rankings.

Carding Samford's second-best scores of the tournament were Katelyn Stanier and Sarah Butts. The aforementioned Bulldogs both finished with 54-hole totals of 242. Heather Arnold, Samford's junior from Lenior City, Tenn., registered an 82 on Wednesday to finish the three-day tournament at 248.

UC-Irvine led the 2008 Price's "Give `Em Five" Invitational from start to finish and won the prestigious event by 18 strokes. UC-Irvine ended the competition with a team score of 881, while Baylor finished second at 899.

Winning the individual competition was UC-Irvine's Jane Chin. She fired a 4-under 68 on Wednesday to dominate the rest of the field with a final score of 212.

The Samford University women's golf team will next be in action Monday and Tuesday in Bay Saint Louis, Miss., as the Bulldogs compete in the 2008 LDR Investments Lady Colonel Collegiate to be held at The Bridges Golf Club.