Alabama Finishes Fifth in Season-Opening Tournament
9/12/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
CHARLESTON, S.C. ?? The Alabama women’s golf team completed its first tournament of the season in record-setting fashion, as the team finished rounds two and three at the Cougar Classic in Charleston, S.C. The Tide, who finished fifth among 18 competitors in the team standings at the Yeamans Hall Course, shot an 887 over 54 holes.
The Alabama team score included a 285 effort in the second round on Monday, a performance that shattered a school record set just last spring. The Tide’s 285 bettered the previous record of 290, set last spring at the LSU/Cleveland Golf Classic in Baton Rouge, La.
“We put together a great second round yesterday and had a good chance to win the event nine holes into the round today,” head coach Mic Potter said. “We had some opportunities to take advantage but we just didn’t do it early and it seemed to go downhill after that point.”
Florida State won the team title, edging second-place North Carolina by a single stroke. Tennesse and LSU were third and fourth, respectively, giving the SEC three teams in the top five at the 18-team tournament.
The Tide was led by senior Jenny Suh and sophomore Laura Goodwin. Each finished with a 217, good for a tie for seventh place in the individual standings.
“Jenny struggled with her putter today, “ Potter said. “She had five or six under five feet or less but couldn’t get them to fall. It was a good round, but it could have been even better if her putter would have been there for her.”
Suh enters her senior season after a record-setting junior campaign that saw her set the new school record for single-season stroke average with her 73.44. Suh, a first team All-SEC and first team All-American last year also won the North & South Amateur and competed on the Curtis Cup team this summer. She notched her 22nd career top-10 finish on the strength of a 68 in the second round, tying a career best for 18 holes.
Goodwin, a native of Birmingham, continued where she left off last spring with her top-10 finish. As a true freshman, she played in all 34 rounds for the Tide last season and finished in the top 35 in three of her final four outings. She carded a 73 and two rounds of even-par 72 at the Cougar Classic.
“I was extremely impressed with Laura at this tournament,” Potter said. “It was a long course, which fits her style of play. She is a tremendous athlete, and I hope this tournament can give her some more confidence.”
Sarah Sturm, a junior who recorded the second-lowest stroke average on the team last season, tied for 14th at the Cougar Classic. Sturm fired a 69 in yesterday’s action, setting a new career best for a single round. The Spartanburg, S.C., native finished with a 220.
Senior Amy Middleton, who appeared in one event for the Tide last season, shot a 240 over three rounds. Newcomer Helena Blomberg, a true freshman from Uppsala, Sweden, opened her intercollegiate career with a 235.
Alabama travels to its second tournament of the fall season on Friday, Sept. 15, when the Tide competes in the Mason Rudolph Championship in Franklin, Tenn.
