April 11, 2006

GEORGETOWN, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' women's golf team took the team lead in the first round on Monday and never looked back as they won their first tournament of the year shooting 329-349 for a two-day 36-hole total of 678 to win the Southwestern Invitational at Berry Creek in Georgetown.

Kristi Martin entered the final round tied with the lead with Southwestern's Heather Goodwin, who both shot 77 on Monday, and shot a 82 in the final round to finish two strokes behind Goodwin's two-round total of 157. Martin shot 159 and it was her second time this spring to finish as runner-up.

The Cowgirls won the team-title by 23 shots over second-place Mary Hardin-Baylor, who had rounds of 356-345 for a two-day composite score of 701. Coming in at third was McMurry, who finished only six shots off the pace of UMHB. Southwestern came in at fourth with a composite score of 714 and Trinity shot 766 to finish in fifth place.

Chandra Hayes and Megan Bennett had impressive tournaments finishing in the top ten. Hayes who finished in eighth all alone had rounds of 84-89 to shoot 173. Bennett came in one stroke behind Hayes with an 84-90 and a 174 to tie for ninth. Andra Boxberger, who also opened up with an 84 in the first round, barely finished out of the top ten in a tie for 11th with a 91 on the final round to have a composite score of 175. Andrea Conley had the third best round for a Cowgirl on Tuesday shooting an 88 and finished in a tie for 17th and a composite score of 180.

The Cowgirls will return to action when they play in the conference tournament on April 24, 25. The two-day 54-hole tournament will be played in Tyler.

Top Five Team Scores 1 Hardin-Simmons 329-349 678 2 Mary Hardin-Baylor 356-345 701 3 McMurry 364-343 707 4 Southwestern 358-356 714 5 Trinity 392-374 766

Top Ten Individual Scores 1 Heather Goodwin, Southwestern 77-80 157 2 Kristi Martin, Hardin-Simmons 77-82 159 3 Marisa Mauldin, Southwestern 80-84 164 4 Jenna Felechner, UMHB 86-82 168 5 Paige Cohick, Trinity 92-79 171 T6 Chelsie Therwhanger, Southwestern 82-90 172 T6 Jenna Hall, McMurry 89-83 172 8 Chandra Hayes, Hardin-Simmons 84-89 173 T9 Heather Barber, UMHB 86-88 174 T9 Megan Bennett, Hardin-Simmons 84-90 174