University of Georgia Athletics
University of Georgia
Cougar Classic
Georgia Golfers Finish Fifth At Cougar Classic
September 11, 2012 | Women's Golf
Sept. 11, 2012
CHARLESTON, S.C. --- The Georgia women's golf team wrapped up a solid showing in the Bulldogs' season opener on Tuesday, finishing fifth in an elite field at the College of Charleston's Cougar Classic.
Georgia closed with a 2-over 290 and completed the 54-hole event at 3-over 867. Freshman Kailey Walsh led the way Tuesday with a 3-under 69, the low loop of the week by any Bulldog. Additional counting scores included an even-par 72 from Emilie Burger, a 74 from Manuela Carbajo Re and a 75 from Rocio Sanchez Lobato. Georgia dropped Collins Bradshaw's 76.
"We set out today trying to post a good number and move up and we did that," first-year head coach Josh Brewer said. "A team that has big goals and big dreams has to play great in the final round. We would've liked to have placed higher, but fifth place in this field is a good beginning."
The tournament featured 11 squads ranked among the nation's top-11 teams in either the Golfweek or Golf World preseason polls. Georgia was tabbed No. 11 in the Golf World/NGCA coaches' ledger and No. 16 by the Golfweek staff.
Carbajo Re was Georgia's top individual finisher, tying for 10th at 2-under 214. Burger tied for 14th at even-par 216, Walsh vaulted from 77th to 36th during the final round and finished at 220, Bradshaw tied for 43rd at 221 and Sanchez Lobato tied for 54th at 223.
Four different Bulldogs combined to post six par-or-better scores during the tournament, but Brewer was equally impressed with his team's consistency throughout the lineup.
"It's a very good sign when a 76 was our highest score the entire week," Brewer said. "If that continues, it's only going to mean great things for this team. It shows we have five players who can post a number when a team most needs it. I'm proud of everyone in the lineup. Hats off to Kailey for bouncing back. I think a 68 was the low round of the day, and she shot 69. That's a heckuva final round for a freshman."
Walsh, the younger sister of former Georgia and current Minnesota Vikings placekicker Blair Walsh, teed off from No. 6 for Tuesday's shotgun start. She bogeyed No. 7 and No. 11 before posting seven birdies, a par and a bogey over the next nine holes to move to 4-under. Following a pair of pars at No. 3 and No. 4, Walsh finished with a bogey at No. 5.
Camilla Hedberg led Florida to a sweep of the team and individual titles. Hedberg shot 13-under 203, while the Gators finished at 12-under 852. Rounding out the top-10 teams were Duke at 858, Southern Cal at 863, Vanderbilt at 864, the Bulldogs at 867, Auburn at 870, N.C. State at 871, Alabama at 877 and North Carolina and Tennessee both at 878.
The Bulldogs will return to action in a week and a half when they trek to Franklin, Tenn., to compete in the Mason Rudolph Championship at the Vanderbilt Legends Club on Sept. 21-23.
Cougar Classic
Yeamans Hall Golf Club
Charleston, S.C.
Par 72; 6219 Yards
Tuesday's Final-Round Standings
Team Leaderboard
Florida 286-279-287=852
Duke 286-291-281=858
Southern Cal 285-283-295=863
Vanderbilt 289-285-290=864
Georgia 287-290-290=867
Auburn 288-288-294=870
N.C. State 290-291-290=871
Alabama 289-294-294=877
North Carolina 300-287-292=878
Tennessee 296-288-294=878
Virginia 286-290-304=880
Wisconsin 292-305-285=882
Penn State 293-296-296=885
Ole Miss 299-293-300=892
UCF 294-294-304=892
South Carolina 306-299-294=899
Wake Forest 297-301-302=900
LSU 303-292-307=902
College of Charleston 300-296-310=906
Miami 300-301-305=906
Maryland 309-295-308=912
UNC Greensboro 300-301-312=913
Furman 307-300-312=919
Charleston Southern 299-313-322=934
Individual Leaderboard
Camilla Hedberg, Florida 69-66-68=203
Lindy Duncan, Duke 69-70-68=207
Erica Popson, Tennessee 73-70-68=211
Lauren Stratton, Vanderbilt 70-71-70=211
Isabelle Lendl, Florida 67-70-75=212
Kendall Martindale, Vanderbilt 73-71-69=213
Mia Piccio, Florida 73-70-70=213
Marta Sanz, Auburn 67-73-73=213
Christina Vosters, Penn State 71-71-71=213
Manuel Carbajo Re, Georgia 70-70-74=214
Ashley Xiao, Duke 72-74-68=214
Additional Georgia Scores
T14. Emilie Burger, Georgia 70-74-72=216
T36. Kailey Walsh, Georgia 76-75-69=220
T28. Collins Bradshaw, Georgia 72-73-76=221
T60. Rocio Sanchez Lobato, Georgia 75-73-75=223
