Feb. 21, 2006
TUCSON, Ariz. -
The Auburn women's golf team concluded its first tournament of the spring season with a fifth-place finish at the Wildcat Invitational, carding a 12-over 288-287-289--864 in the two-day event. The invitational took place at the par 71, 6,166-yard Arizona National Golf Club.
"We faced such an outstanding field this week and our girls really fought hard," head coach Kim Evans said. "This is a long season and we know we have a lot to work on, but I feel that we took some big steps these two days."
Senior Maria Martinez led all Auburn finishers with a tie for 11th firing a 1-under (72-69-71--212) for the tournament. She was followed by Jessica Lovell, who tied for 17th at 1-over (72-69-74--214), Nicole Hage, who tied for 22nd at 3-over (69-75-72--216), Margaret Shirley, who tied for 52nd at 15-over (76-74-75--225) and Abigale Schepperle, who tied for 61st (80-76-72--228).
Arizona State took the Wildcat Invitational crown, winning by six strokes as the Sun Devils carded a 12-under (286-274-280--840) in the win. They were followed by No. 1-ranked Duke at 6-under (281-282-283--846) and California (282-288-289--859) and UCLA (288-284-287--859) tied for third at 7-over.
Jacqui Concolino of Vanderbilt captured individual honors with a 9-under (70-68-66--204) for the tournament. Auburn will now regroup for the LSU Cleveland Golf Classic March 3-5 in Baton Rouge.