Oct. 26, 2008
AUBURN, Ala. – The University of Kentucky’s women’s golf team carded a 297 – good for an eighth place tie – in the final round of the Derby Invitational, on Sunday at the Auburn University Club at Yarbrough Farms.
“The entire team gave an outstanding effort today,” head coach Myra Blackwelder said. “Mallory Blackwelder shot 71 today, and carded her best performance of the fall season to finish 10th in a strong field. She resolved a putter grip issue that had plagued her in the beginning of the season which gained her exemptions into the first two events of the spring season.
“Ashlee Rose put in a very solid tournament, gaining an exemption into the first event of the spring season. Mallory and Ashlee will join Erica Still, who secured two exemptions by virtue of her top-10 at Tennessee two weeks ago, at the spring opener in February at Kiawah Island.”
Rose finished tied for 17th, which was her first top-20 finish of her collegiate career. After leading the Wildcats in the first round, the Lexington, Ky., native continued a strong showing as she carded a four-over-par 76 in the second and final round.
Junior Kristin Vincent climbed 16 places after the final round with her two-over-par 74 – good for a tie for 56th place. Still salvaged her score with a 76, which tied her for 67th place. Freshman Alyssa Randolph shaved four strokes off her score carding a 77.
The Wildcats’ valiant efforts mobilized them from a 13th-place tie after Saturday’s round, to a tie for eighth place with Tulane and No. 33 South Carolina. No. 45 Kentucky, with a cumulative score of 920 (315-308-297), was a mere nine strokes away from Southeastern Conference foe No. 13 LSU, who occupied seventh place with a 911 (314-300-297). UK competed against six top-15 teams including tournament victor No. 3 Arizona State.
Kentucky will make their next appearance in the spring season at Kiawah Island, S.C., for the Cuthbert Cup Feb. 22-24.
Wildcat Scores
T10-Mallory Blackwelder (78-74-71–223 +7)
T17-Ashlee Rose (74-76-76–226 +10)
T56-Kristin Vincent (81-81-74–236 +20)
T67-Erica Still (86-77-76–239 +23)
T72-Alyssa Randolph (82-81-77–240 +24)
