Alabama
Mason Rudolph Championship
Alabama Women's Golf, Abe Claim Mason Rudolph Championship Titles
9/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- The Alabama women's golf team kicked off its 2015-16 season in triumphant fashion, claiming the Mason Rudolph Championship team title on Sunday afternoon at the par-72 6,321-yard Vanderbilt Legends Club South Course in Franklin, Tenn. The Crimson Tide finished the weekend with a 16-under 848. Additionally, sophomore Lakareber Abe took home the individual crown with her 12-under 204, her first collegiate tournament victory.
It was a tough day out on the course for every team during the final round, as only two teams turned in rounds under par. Alabama was 1-over through the front nine, but began to heat up early on the back nine. The 15th hole would prove to be critical, as three Tide players birdied the hole to move the team to 18-under overall. Alabama would drop a couple of strokes from there, but hang on for the victory by a single stroke.
For the third day in a row, Abe paced the team. As most players struggled through the front nine, she recorded a 2-under with birdies at 6 and 8. Abe would knock home two more birdies on the back nine, along with her only bogey of the day at the 17th, to finish 3-under (69). She ended the weekend at 12-under, shooting in the 60s all three days, to best Virginia's Lauren Coughlin, who closed the event at 11-under.
Senior Janie Jackson and freshman Cheyenne Knight were also able to come up with solid rounds on Sunday, as both finished even (72) for the day along with 2-under (214) for the tournament. That was good enough for seventh place in the individual standings.
Junior Cammie Gray had her third round count toward the team's winning total as well. She fired a 1-over 73, her best performance for the weekend. Senior Emma Talley was 4-over in the final round of play.
The Tide was just able to hold off Northwestern for the team title, as the Wildcats were 3-under on Sunday, the best round of any team in the field. Northwestern ended at 15-under overall, one back of Alabama. Georgia finished third at 10-under, the only other team under par for the tournament.
The team will be back in action on Friday, Oct. 9 at the Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabamaWGolf, on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
