LEXINGTON, Ky.? Recent Kentucky graduate and former Wildcat golfer Erin Faulkner captured the 2006 Marion Miley Invitational Friday at the Lexington Country Club after shooting rounds of 70 and 71, for 3-under par for the tournament.
Rising senior Katie Johnson, fresh off qualifying for the U.S. Amateur Championship, took second in the tournament with a 6-over par 150. Johnson concluded the first day, six shots behind her former teammate with a 76. Her second day total of 74 was good enough to share second with reigning-champion Taryn Durham.
?Katie (Johnson) is preparing for the Kentucky Open and the Amateur Championship so her two solid rounds will give her something to build on for the rest of the summer,? said Kentucky coach Stephanie Barker.
Beth Felts, a rising junior, was also in the field and finished eighth in the tournament. Felts shot rounds of 77 and 81 for a total of 158. Felts will join Johnson in the U.S. Amateur event in August.
Faulkner jumped out to an early lead in day one despite facing a two-hour rain delay to take a six-shot lead over Johnson and Durham. Today?s round was equally impressive as she carded her second consecutive under-par round, while fighting off the rest of the field to claim the title. Today?s win was an act of redemption for her third-place finish in the 2005 tournament. Faulkner was the only golfer in last year?s tournament to post a score under-par which she did in the final day of the event, but her opening round of 79 prevented her from catching Durham.
Barker identifies the Lexington Country Club as a tough course, with tricky greens and tight fairways. So, the continued-low round scores of the Wildcats have her excited with the overall progress of her team during the summer months.
?I?m extremely excited for the season,? Barker added. ?All of the girls are having solid summers in addition to Beth and Katie.?
Incoming freshmen Krista Burton and Jessica Smith began the summer finishing one-two at the 80th Women?s State Amateur to begin the summer success stories.
