Feb. 28, 2012

MOBILE, Ala. - The Samford University women's golf team opened its 2012 spring season with a third-place finish Tuesday as the Bulldogs carded identical first and second round scores of 307 at the 10th Annual USA Lady Jaguar Invitational at the Azalea City Golf Club (par 72, 6,051 yards).

Samford concluded the rain-shortened 36-hole competition with a total team score of 614, and finished just seven strokes behind first-place South Alabama (304-303 = 607) and five strokes behind second-place Butler (306-303 = 609).

"We played well enough on the front nine to get ourselves into position, but we just didn't close out the back nine the way we wanted to," said Samford head coach Ryan Mayberry. "We have some things to work on, so next time out we'll be able to finish stronger."

So far in the 2011-12 campaign, the Bulldogs have tallied top-five finishes in five of their six tournaments, including championship titles at the Chris Banister Gamecock Classic and the Memphis Invitational. Tuesday's third-place finish at the 2012 USA Lady Jaguar Invitational proved to be Samford's third best finish of the season.

The Bulldogs completed this week's tournament with four individuals ranked among the top 15. Senior Sarah Butts paced the squad with a 36-hole score of 5-over-par 149 (74-75), while junior Anna Heim also tallied a top-10 finish by placing ninth with a two-round total of 7-over-par 151 (75-76). Butts, Samford's native of Carrollton, Ga., finished the USA Lady Jaguar Invitational tied for fifth place.

Junior Kayla Turner turned in an 11th-place performance Tuesday as she carded a 36-hole score of 153 (77-76) at the Azalea City Golf Club. Turner was followed closely by teammate Natalie Mitchell, who tallied a two-round total of 154 (78-76). Mitchell concluded the tournament tied for 14th place out of 71 competitors.

Samford's Bailey Gray concluded Tuesday's competition with a 36-hole score of 158 (78-80), while Alex Jasper carded a two-round mark of 167 (86-81).

Louisiana-Monroe's Lina Lagergren earned individual medalist honors at the 2012 USA Lady Jaguar Invitational as she carded a tournament-best score of 147 (76-71). South Alabama's Kristin Golightly and Ingrid Hagen both finished tied for second place at 148, as did UAB's Caitlin Watts.

The Samford University women's golf team will next be in action March 9-11 at the James Madison Invitational being held at the Eagle Landing Golf Course in Orange Park, Fla.