ATHENS, Ga. ? The University of Kentucky women?s golf team finished with a flurry in the final round of the 36th annual Liz Murphey tournament as three players shot scores in the 70s and the team turned in a 309 performance.
The Wildcats easily scored their best round of the weekend, bettering their team score by 30 shots from the first day and 16 from the second round. Junior Mallory Blackwelder led all Blue and White players with a final round score of two-over-par (74). Blackwelder tied for 50th after beginning the day in a tie for 78th.
Senior Elizabeth Dotson fired a four-over par 76. Dotson improved her standings on the individual leaderboard by six slots with today?s impressive round eventually tying for 85th. Sophomore Kristin Vincent brought a five-over par 77 into the clubhouse. She capped her weekend in 83rd place, improved three spots on the leaderboard.
Senior Beth Felts and freshman Paige Lausier rounded out the scoring for the Wildcats. Felts shot an 83 with Lausier turning in an 82 scorecard. Felts placed 87th overall and Lausier 89th.
Georgia and Purdue tied for the team victory with Alabama coming in third place. UK was the lone team not ranked in the top-50 of the latest women?s golf poll.
Top-ranked Duke headlined this year’s field, which includes 12 of the top-25 teams in the latest edition of the Golfweek/Sagarin Performance Index. Following the Blue Devils are No. 6 Purdue, No. 10 Auburn, No. 11 Wake Forest, No. 12 Arkansas, No. 13 Georgia, No. 14 Alabama, No. 16 Tennessee, No. 18 Kent State, No. 20 LSU, No. 22 Texas A&M and No. 25 Vanderbilt. Rounding out the competition was Florida State, Furman, Kentucky, South Carolina, UCF and Virginia.
The Classic began humbly in 1973 as the Georgia Invitational before becoming the Women?s Southern Intercollegiate Championships from 1977-94. In 1995, the tournament was renamed in honor of Liz Murphey, UGA?s Hall of Fame golf coach and long-time Senior Woman Administrator.
The Wildcats return to action again April 4-6, when they travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for the conclusion of the regular season. The tournament is hosted by the University of Alabama, and it will be final tune-up before the SEC Championships April 18-20.
