Troy University Athletics
Trojans Finish Strong In Gainesville Shootout
3/17/2008 5:00:00 AM | Golf
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The Troy University women's golf team finished strong on Saturday in the final round of the Gainesville Shootout, hosted by the University of Florida.
Two Trojans, freshman Liz Balkcom and sophomore Kaley Branton, had the best single-round performances in their careers. Branton, a native of Cartersville, Ga., shot a final round 72 while Balkcom, a native of Juliette, Ga., shot a 73 in the second round.
As a team, the Trojans finished 12th in the 15 team tournament, which was played at the Mary Bostick Golf Course, a 5,907 yard, par 70 layout.
“We got better because we played in this event,” head coach Matt Terry said.. “This course was the toughest we have played on in my six years. Not a single team in the tournament shot a round of under 300. To have two players shoot personal bests was really good.”
Branton's closing 72 vaulted her into a tie for 27th place overall. Her three-round score of 234 left her 17 shots behind tournament medalist Alex Rankin of Wofford. Rankin blistered the course for a 68 in the second round, one of only two sub-par rounds on the weekend.
Balkcom finished at 29-over 239 in a tie for 39th place. Junior Desirae Zine (Vaccaville, Calif.) finished in a tie for 42nd with a 30-over score of 240 while freshman Annelies Anderson (Ohaupo, New Zealand) finished tied for 69th (254) and junior Danielle Skipper (Cullman, Ala.) finished tied for 71st (255).
The University of Illinois took home the team title with a score of 16-over par 916. Texas State (918) was second followed by Michigan (920), Illinois State (924) and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (933).
“I am proud of the way all five girls competed in this event,” Terry said. “We should be able to build off this over the next two weeks before we play again.”
The Trojans will return to action March 30-April 1 at the Larry Nelson Invitational in Braselton, Ga. That tournament will be followed by the Crimson Tide Classic (April 3-6) and the Sun Belt Conference Championship (April 20-23).
Two Trojans, freshman Liz Balkcom and sophomore Kaley Branton, had the best single-round performances in their careers. Branton, a native of Cartersville, Ga., shot a final round 72 while Balkcom, a native of Juliette, Ga., shot a 73 in the second round.
As a team, the Trojans finished 12th in the 15 team tournament, which was played at the Mary Bostick Golf Course, a 5,907 yard, par 70 layout.
“We got better because we played in this event,” head coach Matt Terry said.. “This course was the toughest we have played on in my six years. Not a single team in the tournament shot a round of under 300. To have two players shoot personal bests was really good.”
Branton's closing 72 vaulted her into a tie for 27th place overall. Her three-round score of 234 left her 17 shots behind tournament medalist Alex Rankin of Wofford. Rankin blistered the course for a 68 in the second round, one of only two sub-par rounds on the weekend.
Balkcom finished at 29-over 239 in a tie for 39th place. Junior Desirae Zine (Vaccaville, Calif.) finished in a tie for 42nd with a 30-over score of 240 while freshman Annelies Anderson (Ohaupo, New Zealand) finished tied for 69th (254) and junior Danielle Skipper (Cullman, Ala.) finished tied for 71st (255).
The University of Illinois took home the team title with a score of 16-over par 916. Texas State (918) was second followed by Michigan (920), Illinois State (924) and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (933).
“I am proud of the way all five girls competed in this event,” Terry said. “We should be able to build off this over the next two weeks before we play again.”
The Trojans will return to action March 30-April 1 at the Larry Nelson Invitational in Braselton, Ga. That tournament will be followed by the Crimson Tide Classic (April 3-6) and the Sun Belt Conference Championship (April 20-23).
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