Tuesday, April 04, 2006

            STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. (April 4, 2006) - The ETSU Lady Bucs finished just 15 strokes off the pace of team champion Augusta State, ultimately placing ninth after final round play Tuesday in the John Kirk/Lady Panther Invitational hosted by Georgia State at the Eagle's Landing Country Club.

            The field, which included nine teams ranked above the Lady Bucs nationally, was one of the toughest of the year for the ETSU women. Augusta State held on for the title by just one stroke over second place Louisville and Memphis. Meanwhile, the individual championship went to Stacey Tate of Memphis, who held off Kentucky's Ali Kicklighter in a sudden death playoff.

            ETSU was led by senior Ashley Barton (Seffner, Fla.), who ended the event tied for 15^th with a score of 156. In addition, sophomore Natalia Giraldo (Cali, Colombia) finished tied for 18^th at 157, and freshman Lucy Gould (Bargoed, Wales) was tied for 28^th at 163. Sophomore Maria Ringdahl (Oland, Sweden) and senior Laura Diaz (Aguadilla, P.R.) finished tied for 42^nd and 55^th, respectively.

            One positive note for the Lady Bucs was besting Atlantic Sun Conference rival Campbell by five strokes. The Camels are typically one of the top teams in the A-Sun, and both teams will now begin preparations for the conference championships which will be played April 10-12 at the DeBary Country Club in DeBary, Fla.

            For more on ETSU women's golf, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the women's golf link.