Golf Turns In Strong Performance At Furman

Sunday, September 22

Greenville, S.C.

All Day

Samford University

Lady Paladin Invitational

Senior Natalie Mitchell finished the three-round competition tied for 12th place in the massive 90-player field.

9.22.13 | Women's Golf

Samford finishes eighth in the talent-laden field of competitors

Final Results

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Senior Natalie Mitchell registered a three-day, 54-hole total of 3-over-par 219 (76-70-73) Sunday to lead the Samford University women's golf team to an eighth-place finish at the talent-laden Lady Paladin Invitational Golf Tournament held at the par-72, 6,266-yard Furman University Golf Course.

Mitchell, the Bulldogs' talented native of Germantown, Tenn., finished the three-round competition tied for 12^th place in the massive 90-player field. Her round of 2-under-par 70 on Saturday proved to be Samford's best score of the weekend.

"I thought this was another solid showing from our team," said Samford head coach Rachel Ingram. "Our round of 291 on Saturday was the second lowest score of the day and that came on a very challenging golf course. The undulating greens were extremely fast and I was impressed with how well we handled them by staying patient throughout the rounds."

As a team, the Bulldogs earned an eighth-place finish and concluded the event just three strokes behind Texas A&M and six behind Florida State. Samford carded a final team score of 900 (307-291-302) and blistered the course Saturday with its tournament-best round of 291.

"Each day these ladies impress me more and more with their desire to improve and take their games to the next level," Ingram said. "I am thankful for their heart and determination every day on the course."

Wisconsin (+1) fired a tournament-record 281 on Sunday, breaking the previous single-round record of 283 set by Georgia in 2003, to win the Lady Paladin with a 54-hole score of 865, also a tournament record. The Bulldogs won the 2003 tournament with a three-day score of 866. Clemson (+3) finished second at 867, while GRU Augusta (+6) placed third with a score of 870.

Clemson's Ashlan Ramsey (-7) garnered Individual Medalist honors after shooting a 70 on Sunday for a 54-hole total of 209, breaking the former Lady Paladin tournament record of 210, set by Auburn's Celeste Troche in 2000. Kennesaw State's Ines Lescudier registered a hole in one on the par 3 No. 14 on Sunday.

Samford's Sydney Needham finished the 42nd-annual Lady Paladin Invitational Golf Tournament with a solid three-day score of 224 (75-73-76). Just a true freshman, the Bulldogs' talented native of Carrollton, Ga., earned a 21st-place finish at the highly-competitive, 16-team tournament.

Earlier this season, Needham claimed Individual Medalist honors at the 2013 FedEx Memphis Intercollegiate and then garnered runner-up accolades at last week's Great Smokies Intercollegiate.

The Bulldogs' Bailey Gray concluded this weekend's tournament with a final tally of 228 (77-73-78), while senior Alex Jasper finished one stroke behind at 229 (79-75-75) and junior Emily Stallings rounded out Samford's scoring with a three-round total of 239 (79-79-81).

"We have been working a lot on our creativity around and on the greens, which definitely paid off this week," said Ingram. "I know our ladies are worn out after playing two tournaments back-to-back. Now, they can get physical and mental rest to get prepared for our next tournament in Daytona Beach on Oct. 5-7."

The Samford University women's golf team will next be in action Oct. 5-7, as the Bulldogs travel to Daytona Beach, Fla., for the 2013 LPGA Xavier International, which will be held at the LPGA International Golf Course.

Final Results