April 13, 2010

Flagler Wins Inaugural Peach Belt Conference Women's Golf Championship

Pine Mountain, Ga. -- On the strength of three top-10 individual finishes, Flagler College won the inaugural Peach Belt Conference Women's Golf Championship at Callaway Gardens on Tuesday. Montevallo's Emily Gibson shot a final-round 74 to earn medalist honors. Armstrong Atlantic State finished second, Montevallo third, UNC Pembroke fourth, Columbus State fifth and North Georgia sixth in the event.

Flagler got rounds of 79 by Kaitlyn Edwards and 75 by Elin Karlsson, both of whom finished tied for fourth individually, to pace the title run on Tuesday. Kristie Feltner fired an 83 and finished by herself in 10th position. Laura Martellino and Marissa Marinan each tied for 19th after rounds of 90 and 95 on Tuesday.

Armstrong Atlantic State was right in the thick of the battle for the team title, but fell five shots short. Kelly Pearce shot a final-round 77 and tied for second overall in the event, while teammate Victoria Bennett shot a 79 and finished eighth. Kimberley Knox finished with an 81 (T11), and Sarah Johns an 88. Carrie George and UNC Pembroke's Jennifer Crow were disqualified for rules infractions on Tuesday.

Gibson fired a final round 74 and held off Pearce and UNCP's Katja Dammann by two shots in earning the individual title. Emma Breen (83, 9th), Rachel Shaner (81, T11), Kayla Witt (89, T17) and Angela Buonassisi (111, 25) rounded out the scoring for the Falcons.

Dammann led for a good portion of Tuesday's round, but lost a few coming in and shot a second-straight 78 to tie with Pearce for second. Christina Crovetti finished sixth after a 79, and Shauna Walor fired an 85 to finish 15th. Alexa Mooney shot a 90 to tie for 17th, and Crow's disqualification and her withdrawal due to illness on Monday meant she did not post an official score in the event. 

CSU got solid finishing scores from Kimesha Anthony (78, 7th) and Heather Altiser (81, T11) on Tuesday. Leslie Hatcher, the best story of the inaugural season for CSU, broke 100 for two straight rounds in the tournament and finished with a 97 on Tuesday to finish 22nd. Samantha Hamilton (112, 23rd) and Alex Espana (110, 24th) rounded out the field.