Feb. 14, 2012

UCF Challenge Final Results

SORRENTO, Fla. -Owning a share of the lead entering the final round, the 22nd-ranked Baylor women's golf team couldn't overcome windy conditions and slow start Tuesday, finishing second at the UCF Challenge. Since opening the Jay Goble era with a sixth-place finish in September, Baylor has finished either first or second in four straight tournaments.

No. 22 Baylor shot a three-day total of 1-over 865, finishing two strokes behind tournament winner and third-ranked Auburn (1-under 863). Tulane came in third at 2-over 866, followed by No. 47 UCF in fourth at 9-over 873 and Augusta State in fifth at 15-over 873. Only six of the 18 teams shot below 300, including Baylor, which shot a final-round 296.

"It was really windy throughout the day and we got off to a really bad start," first-year head coach Jay Goble said. "We put ourselves in a hole right from the start. Looking at all three days, instead of just looking at the final round, I like the way we've started the spring."

Senior Chelsey Cothran and freshman Hayley Davis tied for fourth overall at 1-under 215. For Cothran, it was her fourth consecutive top-five finish. After shooting a first-round 77, Cothran, who is rated 48th nationally by Golfstat, rebounded with a 4-under 68 in the second round and a 2-under 70 in the final round.

"Chelsey (Cothran) has a lot of heart and she will fight to the very end," Goble said. "She came back in the final round and shot 4-under on the back nine, which with those pin placements and the windy conditions, is amazing."

Despite a final-round 76, Davis, who is rated 25th nationally by Golfstat, continued her stellar freshman season, finishing in the top 10 in all five collegiate tournaments - her fourth top 5 showing.

"Hayley (Davis) didn't finish the way she wanted, but she'll continue to play well for us," Goble said."

Fellow English freshman Emma Carberry recorded her career-first top 25 finish, tying for 25th overall. Carberry shot a final-round 76 to finish the tournament at 6-over 222. Freshman Stani Schiavone and senior Valerie Sternebeck were one stroke behind Carberry in a tie for 32nd at 7-over 223.

"To go head-to-head with No. 3 Auburn and hang with them for three days, I look at it as a positive," Goble said. "We'll take the positives from Florida and move forward to the next tournament. We're going to be ready."

Baylor returns to the links Feb. 26-28 for the Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate at English Turn Golf and Country Club in New Orleans. Live scoring will be available at www.GolfStat.com.