Women's Golf Claims Second Straight Tournament Title

Women's Golf 4/6/2009 12:00:00 AM

April 6, 2009

NORMAN, Okla. - The Baylor women's golf team used four rounds of 79 or better in the final round of the Susie Maxwell Berning Classic to claim its second straight tournament title.

Trailing tournament leader Oklahoma by six strokes headed in today's final 18 holes, the Lady Bears posted a tournament-best round of 18-over, 306 to take the team title at the OU tournament for the second time in the last three years.

The win in Norman, Okla., combined with the Lady Bears' win at the Cincinnati Invite last week, marked only the third time in school history, and first since 2004, that Baylor has won back-to-back tournaments.

"Today was a nice surprise because we were several shots back of the lead and weren't even paired with the top three teams during the final round" said head coach Sylvia Ferdon. "I was happy with the way the girls just took it shot-by-shot and weren't concerned about making up the strokes all at once.

"This was the exactly the type of performance we needed. We finished ahead of several good teams in our region so I think that really helps us realize what we're capable of at the NCAA Regional next month."

Hannah Burke earned her eighth top five finish of her career as the junior from Hertfordshire, England, carded a third round 74 to finish the tournament tied for third at 231 (78-79-74). Burke moves into a tie for second place with Tara Bateman on the all-time list of top five finishes at Baylor.

Freshman Chelsey Cothran tallied the best finish of her young collegiate career with a sixth place showing on her way to a 54-hole total of 234 (80-77-77). Not bothered by her first round 85, Lene Hafsten-Morch carded a 4-over, 76 during the third and final round to move up 11 spots on the individual leader board. Hafsten-Morch finished the tournament tied for 11th individually at 237 (85-76-76).

Jordan Rhodes continued to play well for the Lady Bears as the sophomore from San Antonio, Texas, ended the tournament with a final round of 79, to secure her third straight top 30 finish with a three-round total of 239. Jaclyn Jansen rebounded from a second round 91 to card an 8-over, 80 during Monday's final round.

Rounding out play for Baylor was sophomore Morgan Chambers. Chambers, who was competiting as an individual, posted an 83 Monday to put her tied for 34th overall and at 245 for the tournament.

Baylor will next hit the links April 24-26 as the Lady Bears travel to Lubbock, Texas to compete in the 2009 Big 12 Championships at the Rawls Course.

BAYLOR INDIVIDUALS
t3) Hannah Burke 231 (78-79-74)
t6) Chelsey Cothran 234 (80-77-77)
t11) Lene Hafsten-Morch 237 (85-76-76)
t17) Jordan Rhodes 239 (82-78-79)
t34) Morgan Chambers 245 (87-75-83) (*INDIVIDUAL*)
t66) Jaclyn Jansen 257 (86-91-80)

TEAM LEADERBOARD
1) Baylor 941 (325-310-306)
2) Oklahoma 944 (315-314-315)
3) Oral Roberts 949 (317-316-316)
4) Kansas 958 (327-314-317)
5) Arkansas-Little Rock 959 (318-316-325)
6) UTEP 968 (314-322-332)
7) Redlands CC 971 (331-322-318)
8) Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 974 (334-327-313)
9) Kansas State 977 (337-316-324)
10) Oklahoma City University 979 (331-327-321)
11) SMU 984 (344-322-318)
12) Wichita State 992 (344-324-327)
13) North Texas 1003 (340-334-329)
14) Bucknell 1017 (347-344-326)
15) Creighton 1036 (353-342-341)