The University of Kentucky women’s golf team held tight to a third place standing on Wednesday, Nov. 8,to finish with a team total of 903, just 13 strokes behind tournament winner Michigan State at the PineNeedles Women’s Collegiate Championships in Southern Pines, N.C. Junior Towa Okiyama led the way forthe Kats, notching a 224 for the three-round event to finish tied for 11th place.

The Kats posted a team high for the week on Wednesday with a 304, but still managed to edge outSoutheastern Conference rival Alabama, who finished in fourth place with a 906 after leading following thefirst round. In a playoff, Fany Schaeffer of South Florida took individual honors with a three-round total of 216.Kentucky sophomore Rachel Lester, who held the lead going into the final round, had a tough day on thecourse, posting an 11-over-par 82 to bring her total to 226 and tie her for 18th place.

Other UK golfers competing included sophomore Kelly Anders, who looked strong in the final round,posting a 1-under-par 70 to bring her tournament total to 225 and place her in a tie for 15th. Senior JennyThrogmorton found herself tied for 24th in the event after posting a 228 and junior Kristen Pepe rounded outthe Kats lineup with a 246 and a share of 51st. Freshman Eva Gessner competed as an individual in theevent and tallied a 248, which was good enough for 55th place.

“This was obviously our most impressive performance of the fall season,” Coach Bettie Lou Evans said.”I feel really good wrapping up the fall season on a positive and reinforcing note like this.”

The Lady Kats enjoy a three-month hiatus before opening spring play at the Lady Gator Invitational inGainesville, Fla., Feb. 23-25.

For more information on the UK women’s golf program, please contact Mandy Polley at (859) 257-3838 or via email (anpoll0@pop.uky.edu).

AGATETeam Scores1.      Michigan State          307-295-288     8902.      South Florida           301-294-298     8933.      Kentucky                299-300-304     9034.      Alabama                 291-304-311     9065.      Louisville              301-305-305     911        Campbell                302-306-303     9117.      Memphis                 292-314-309     9158.      Penn State              310-306-302     9189.      Miami                   309-309-309     92710.     Florida International   315-311-312     93811.     N.C. State              315-318-320     95312.     Rollins College         323-322-324     969

UK ScoresT11. Towa Okiyama 74 73 77 224T15. Kelly Anders 76 79 70 225T18. Rachel Lester 74 70 82 226T24. Jenny Throgmorton 75 78 75 228T51. Kristen Pepe 78 85 83 24655. Eva Gessner 79 86 83 248