Trojans Comeback From Down 12 Strokes to Win Team Title

Sunday, April 8

Oneonta, Ala.

Troy University

Samford University

Trojans Comeback From Down 12 Strokes to Win Team Title

4/10/2012 8:00:00 PM | Golf (W)

By: Brandon Lee

Final Team Results
Final Player Results

ONEONTA, Ala. – After being down by 12 strokes after the second round of the Samford University Women's Intercollegiate, the Troy women's golf team charged to the top of the leader board on Tuesday to claim the team championship by one stroke over No. 80 Middle Tennessee State.

Florida Southern entered the final round with a two-stroke lead over Middle Tennessee. Troy, who finished Monday's two rounds at 37-over par, had a lot of ground to make up in the final round. The Trojans responded on day two with a team score of 301, which is sixth-best for the 2011-2012 season.

Senior Haley Lawrence (74-76-72-222) carded her second best score of the season with an even-par 72 to finish the tournament with a 222 at six-over par.

“All the other teams said the course was playing harder today, but personally I thought it was the same course as the day before,” Lawrence said. “It was a boring day for me today; I made all pars with two bogeys and two birdies and I hit every fairway.”

For the second consecutive round, senior Sofia Bjorkman (77-74-74-225) carded a two-over par 74 to finish at 225, nine-over par. Taylor McGraw (78-77-78-233) finished at 17-over par tied for 24th. Langley Vannoy carded her best score of the tournament in the third round and ended tied for 32nd at 20-over par.

Sydney Conrad carded her worst round of the two-day event with an 82, but still managed to claim a tie for 41st with a 239. Sara Fennvik, who competed as an individual, finished tied for 49th at 32-over par.

“We have won 3 tournaments this year and that is awesome for any program,” head coach Matt Terry said. “I am really proud of the girls. This tournament was a little unfinished business from last year.”

Lawrence, who said that the team didn't even know they were in the lead, said that the tournament was the same as the rest of them, and that they were just looking for consistent play.

“We came in after we finished play for the tournament and did not even know we were winning,” Lawrence said. “For us, it was just like any other day; we were just going for a top 3 finish. We were 12 shots out of the lead and winning this event really puts us ahead right before going into conference.”

The Sun Belt Conference Championship is slated for a Monday through Wednesday format. The tournament will be held at the Robert Trent Jones “The Shoals” in Muscle Shoals, Ala.

“It is always good to have a win and this gives the team a mental edge and a little bit more of a voice going into conference play,” Terry said.

For more information on Troy Athletics visit TroyTrojans.com. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter at @TroyAthletics and on Facebook by visiting www.Facebook.com/TroyAthletics.

Team Standings:
1. Troy (307-306-301-914); 2. Middle Tennessee (298-305-312-915); 3. Samford (305-305-306-916); 4. Florida Southern (298-303-316-917); 5. ULM (303-307-312-922); 6. Newberry College (315-300-309-924); 7. Jacksonville State (313-304-312-929); 8. South Alabama (304-319-307-930); 9. UAB (328-324-315-967)

Individual Standings:
1. Maria Luz Besio (Newberry) 74-72-73-219; 2. Kayla Turner (Samford) 73-73-75-221; 3. Haley Lawrence (Troy) 74-76-72-222; 4. Natalie Mitchell (Samford) 71-72-80-223; 5. Sofia Bjorkman (Troy) 77-74-74-225

Troy Individuals:
3. Haley Lawrence (74-76-72-222); 5. Sofia Bjorkman (77-74-74-225); T24. Taylor McGraw (78-77-78-233); T32. Langley Vannoy (79-80-77-236); T41. Sydney Conrad (78-79-82-239); T49. Sara Fennvik (85-83-80-248)