Despite gusty winds and sleet, the University of Kentucky women’s golf team captured its first tournament win since March 2006 at the Lady Mocs Intercollegiate, April 6 at the Lookout Mountain Golf Course.
The last time the Wildcats claimed a tournament was at the Lady Seahawk Invitational in Wilmington, N.C., on March 27-28, 2006.
“We picked up our first win of the season in very difficult conditions today,” head coach Myra Blackwelder said. “The tournament was shortened to 18 holes due to the forecasted snow and wind chills in the low 20s tomorrow. Our day encompassed all the winter precipitation elements; snow, sleet, hail and rain. The winds blew as a constant 10 mph with guests up to 35 mph.
“We told our players that 77 was par before they teed off, and Mallory Blackwelder won the event with the score of 77. Four players in the field broke 80 which also included Ashlee Rose (79).”
Senior Mallory Blackwelder claimed her second collegiate tournament, her first as a Wildcat. The Versailles, Ky., native claimed her first tournament as a Florida Gator at the UK Wildcat Fall Invitational in 2005. Blackwelder’s previous best placement at Kentucky was set last season at the Qdoba Invitational where she finished second with a four-over-par 220.
Freshman Ashlee Rose also claimed a career best finish as she tied for second place carding a 79. Rose made a drastic improvement from her previous best placement – a tie for 17th place at the 2008 Derby Invitational.
Junior Kristin Vincent rounded out the record-breaking trio as she claimed a career best finish with a 7th-place tie. Vincent’s previous record was a 9th-place tie at the 2008 Crimson Tide Classic.
Sophomore Louise Ljungstedt tied with Vincent carding an 82 as the Lidingo, Sweden native competed as an individual.
Freshman Alyssa Randolph shot an 87 – good for a 29th-place tie. Junior Sara Hurwitch wasn’t far behind with an 88 as she tied for 33rd place.
“The next task at hand will be to regroup and pick our strongest team for the Southeastern Conference Championships next week,” Myra Blackwelder said. “We will make that decision sometime over the weekend.”
Wildcat Scores
1-Mallory Blackwelder (77 +5)
T2-Ashlee Rose (79 +7)
T7-Kristin Vincent (82 +10)
T7-Louise Ljungstedt (82 +10)*
T17-Laura McGehee (85 +13)*
T29-Alyssa Randolph (87 +15)
T33-Sara Hurwitch (88 +16)
T33-Erica Still (88 +16)*
* Competed as an individual
