ROGERS, Ark. ? The University of Kentucky women?s golf team posted a strong finish on the third and final day of the Tyson/Embassy Suites Invitational Tuesday at the Pinnacle Country Club, to conclude tournament play in third place with a three-round total of 906 (311-291-304).
The Cats, who posted their third top-five team finish of the season Tuesday, were led by senior Ali Kicklighter (DeLand, Fla.), who finished the tournament in a tie for 14th place with a 226 (78-74-74).
“I am so happy with the way our team battled in order to finish strong,” UK head coach Stephanie Barker said. “It’s a great course and we did a nice job of getting some good birdies. We have had two top-three finishes this season and this team is certainly headed in the right direction. We keep raising our goals because of how well we’ve played.”
No. 2 Arkansas claimed its home event, shooting a two-under-par 286 on the final day of the tournament to finish with a three-round total of 876 (291-299-286). Lady Backs golfer Ashley Medders shot a three-under-par 69 on Tuesday to claim the tournament crown, carding a four-under-par 212 (72-71-69) over the three-day event. Arkansas won the team title after finishing 20 strokes ahead of second-place Notre Dame.
Senior Erin Faulkner (Bowling Green, Ky.) finished in a tie for 16th place with a 227 (79-71-77), while sophomore Elizabeth Dotson (White Bluff, Tenn.) fired a 74 on the final day of play to conclude the tournament in a tie for 28th place with a 230 (83-73-74).
Junior Katie Johnson (Lexington, Ky.) finished the tournament in a tie for 31st place with a 231 (77-73-81) and sophomore Beth Felts (Chattanooga, Tenn.) finished tied for 35th place with a three-round total of 233 (77-77-79).
Competing as an individual, junior Marissa Muir (Tuscon, Ariz.) concluded tournament play in a tie for 81st place with a 250 (81-88-81).
Kentucky returns to action Tuesday, Nov. 1, as it travels to Kapolei, Hawaii, to compete in the Kent Youel Invitational. Live statistics for the two-day event will be available on ukathletics.com.
Team Results: Place Team Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Total Relation to Par 1 Arkansas 291 299 286 876 +12 2 Notre Dame 299 303 294 896 +32 3 Kentucky 311 291 304 906 +42 4 Nebraska 298 313 300 911 +47 5 Augusta St. 303 310 302 915 +51 6 Illinois St. 313 302 301 916 +52 7 Iowa 304 302 311 917 +53 8 Kansas 303 309 306 918 +54 9 Kansas St. 306 315 298 919 +55 10 Wisconsin 307 316 316 939 +75 11 Michigan 315 310 316 941 +77 12 Iowa St. 320 310 312 942 +78 13 Oral Roberts 317 325 305 947 +83 14 Missouri St. 315 316 321 952 +88 15 Southern Miss. 304 320 333 957 +93 16 Wichita St. 329 320 322 971 +107
Kentucky Individual Results: Place Name Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Total Relation to Par T14 Ali Kicklighter 78 74 74 226 +10 T16 Erin Faulkner 79 71 77 227 +11 T28 Elizabeth Dotson 83 73 74 230 +14 T31 Katie Johnson 77 73 81 231 +15 T35 Beth Felts 77 77 79 233 +17 T81 Melissa Muir * 81 88 81 250 +34 * Muir is competing as an individual in the tournament.
Her scores are not reflected in the Kentucky team score.
