JMU WOMEN'S GOLF FINISHES 11TH AT MERCEDES-BENZ CHAMPIONSHIP

Friday, October 8

Holston Hills CC - Knoxville, Tenn.

All Day

James Madison University

MERCEDES-BENZ WOMEN'S COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIP

JMU WOMEN'S GOLF FINISHES 11TH AT MERCEDES-BENZ CHAMPIONSHIP

10/11/2010 11:28:00 AM | Women's Golf

Results

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Improving its score after the first round in each of the next two, the James Madison women's golf team finished 11th at the 2010 Mercedes-Benz Women's Championship, Oct. 8-10. The three-day, 54-hole tournament was played at Holston Hills Country Club (Par 72 - 6,302 yards) in Knoxville, Tenn.

After an opening round 303, the Dukes improved on each of the next two days, shooting 300 on Saturday and 9-over 297 on Sunday to finish in 11th at 36-over 900 (303-300-297). For the second straight day, all five Madison players posted scores in the 70s. Host Tennessee set a tournament record with an 15-under 849, winning the team title by 20 shots over runner-up Arkansas at 5-over 869. Kent State was third at 10-over 874, with Mississippi (875) and Notre Dame (876) rounding out the top five teams.

Freshman Ginger Mak (Hong Kong, China) and junior Nicole Sakamoto (Honolulu, Hawaii/Kalani) were the top finishers for the Dukes tying for 30th at 6-over 222, as Sakamoto had the top individual round for JMU in the final day with a 1-over 73. Freshman Sara Stanley (Chantilly, Va./Westfield) was next in a tie for 50th at 12-over 228. Senior Laura Mesa (Manizales, Colombia/Colegio Granadino) shot a 15-over 231 to tie for 62nd, while senior Catrin Gunnarsson (Bankeryd, Sweden/Sanda Gymnasiet) completed JMU's scoring in a tie for 70th at 20-over 236. Tennessee's Erica Popson won the individual title with a 15-foot birdie on the first playoff hole, No. 10. Ole Miss' Natalie Gleadall captured runner-up, as the pair set a new Mercedes-Benz tournament record for 54-hole score, both finishing at 9-under 207.

JMU will wrap up its fall part of the schedule Fri.-Sun., Oct. 29-31 at the Lady Paladin Invitational. The three-day, 54-hole event will be played at Furman University Golf Club in Greenville, S.C.