Oct. 31, 2010

GREENVILLE, S.C. - In its final tournament of the 2010 fall season, the Samford University women's golf team posted a ninth-place finish Sunday at the highly-competitive Lady Paladin Invitational hosted by Furman University at the Furman University Golf Course.

The Bulldogs finished the three-day competition with a 54-hole team score of 953 (308-320-325). Samford was led individually by junior Sarah Butts who carded a three-round tally of 234 (75-79-80). The Bulldogs' native of Carrollton, Ga., completed the talent-laden tournament in 16th place in the individual standings.

Samford's Anna Heim earned a 21st-place finish as she tallied a 54-hole score of 236 (74-81-81). The Bulldogs' Kayla Turner, Alex Jasper and Natalie Mitchell then followed with scores of 243, 245 and 248, respectively.

Chattanooga (305-308-302=915) fired a final-round mark of 302 to claim the team title, while Nova Southeastern's Sandra Changkija (73-77-73=223) edged Charlotte Lorentzen (73-76-74=223) of Georgia State on the second hole of a sudden death playoff for her second straight Lady Paladin Invitational title.

The Lady Mocs finished 14 strokes ahead of second place Georgia State (302-320-307=929) on the strength of Emma de Groot's (75-78-73=226) fourth place finish and a fifth place finish by Christine Wolf (74-76-77=227). Nova Southeastern (307-318-308=933) wrapped up third place with a final round 308 while Longwood (310-318-309=937) and Furman (310-320-309=939) rounded out the top five.

Changkija, who won last year's rain-shortened Lady Paladin, secured the title in a playoff after posting a final round one-over 73. The senior became the first player to claim back-to-back Lady Paladin titles since Furman's Kristel Mourgue d'Algue accomplished the feat with victories in 1991 and 1992.

The Samford University women's golf team will next be in action Feb. 28 through March 1 as the Bulldogs begin their spring season at the 2011 USA Lady Jaguar Invitational to be held in Mobile, Ala., at the Azalea City Golf Course.

Final Results - 2010 Lady Paladin Invitational