Sept. 11, 2013
BRYAN, Texas – After recording the third-lowest round in program history with a team score of two-under-par 286, the University of Kentucky women’s golf team won the 2013 “MO”Morial Invitational by an amazing 11 strokes Wednesday afternoon at the Traditions Club. Three Wildcats finished in the top 10 led by freshman Haley Mills and sophomore Sarah Harris who claimed first and tied for second, respectively.
The Wildcats finished the tournament at eight-over par (872), while the next closest team, Virginia, finished at 19-over. This marks the third team title under current head coach Golda Johansson Borst. Kentucky also won the season-opening tournament last season at the Old Waverly Bulldog Invitational.
“It is hard to put into words how proud and excited I am for this group,” Borst explained. “They created an opportunity to win this event and then they capitalized on that. I was really looking forward to seeing how they would react today and they handled all their emotions with poise. I am beyond proud of all of them and we will continue to build on this as we get deeper into the fall season. Sarah (Harris) and Liz (Breed) also stepped up this week and it’s really special to have three girls in the top 10 and two of them finish first and second.”
Rounding out the top five were UCF (+21), East Carolina (+29) and Texas A&M (+30). Finishing out the standings were Florida State (+36), Texas A&M ‘B’ (+57), UTSA (+58), Rollins College (+68), Elon (+97), Redlands CC (+105) and Texas Pan American (+188). Kentucky had by far the best team score for the second-straight day, as the Wildcats were the only team to post an under-par round.
Competing in just her third collegiate round of golf, Mills never got complacent while playing in the lead. The Tyler, Texas, native played a fantastic third round, as she recorded two birdies and only one bogey to finish the day at one-under (71). Her final tally of three-under (213) was four strokes better than the second-place finishers. She finished the first round in the lead and never relinquished it for the remainder of the tournament.
“Haley (Mills) came into her own this week as a Wildcat,” Borst said. “She was very comfortable playing at Traditions and she really played solid all week. This was a big step for her and I am looking forward to watching her develop over the next few years.”
Finishing tied for second at one-over for the tournament, Harris began the final round slowly, but finished with three birdies on the back nine to finish the day two-over (74). The second place finish ties a career-best for the Hermitage, Tenn., native. She also finished second at the 2013 SEC Championship.
Rounding out the top 10 was senior Liz Breed who finished tied for seventh at four-over. Breed had a third round score of one-under par 71. After starting the day with three straight bogies, Breed recorded two birdies on hole Nos. 8 and 9 and then on the back nine at No. 14 and No. 16. The seventh place finish is one off her career-best (T-6 at 2013 SEC Championship).
Freshman Alessandra Walker picked up a top 20 finish in her first collegiate competition, as she finished tied for 20th at eight-over for the tournament. Walker had five birdies on the afternoon as she had a third round score of even-par 72.
Sophomore Cylia Damerau saved her best round of golf for the final round, as she turned in an even-par round of 72. The Cham, Switzerland, native ended the tournament in a tie for 24th at 10-over par.
Freshman Megan Kinney, who played the tournament as an individual, completed her first tournament at 30-over and tied for 58th. Kinney turned in a final round score of 13-over par 85.
For more information on the University of Kentucky women’s golf team please visit UKathletics.com and follow on Twitter @UKWomensGolf. The Wildcats return to action at the Mason Rudolph Championship in Franklin, Tenn., Sept. 20-22.
Traditions Club
Par: 72 (36-36)
Yardage: 6,206 (3,155-3,051)
Final Results
1. Kentucky: 294-292-286=872 (+8)
1. Haley Mills: 70-72-71=213 (-3)
T2. Sarah Harris: 72-71-74=217 (+1)
T7. Liz Breed: 77-72-71=220 (+4)
T20. Alessandra Walker: 75-77-72=224 (+8)
T24. Cylia Damerau: 77-77-72=226 (+10)
T58. *Megan Kinney: 77–84-85=246 (+30)
