May 24, 2002

AUBURN, Wash. - Baylor's Melanie Hagewood finished in a tie for 50th at the 2002 NCAA Championships, a historic performance for the first Bear golfer to ever compete in the national finals. Hagewood shot a fourth-round five-over-par 77 Friday at Washington National Golf Club in Auburn, Wash.

Hagewood slipped 13 spots in the final round, after starting the day in a tie for 27th. After opening rounds of 72 and 70 put her in a tie for sixth place at two-under, Hagewood's final rounds of 80 and 77 resulted in a drop to No. 50 among 126 individuals at the championships.

The junior from Clarksville, Tenn., finished 11-over at 299, 20 strokes behind the national champion Virada Nirapathpongporn of Duke who shot a nine-under 279.

Hagewood qualified for individual play after finishing fourth at the NCAA Central Regional in East Lansing, Mich., May 11.