April 23, 2009

LAKE CHARLES, La. - The Nicholls women's golf team closed out its season by shooting a 312 during the final round of the 2009 Southland Conference Women's Golf Championship held at the par 72, 5,956 yard Lake Charles Country Club on Wednesday.

The Colonels finished the three-day 54-hole event in eighth place with a 952 (310-330-312).

Leading the way for Nicholls was freshman Brooke Braun, who finished tied for 19th place by shooting a 233 (73-83-77). Other Colonel golfers included sophomore Elyse Kinley (26th - 236/80-80-76), freshman Natalie McLane (T27 - 237/77-82-78), freshman Sofia Joensson (T36 - 246/80-85-81) and senior Emiley Patton (39th - 249/81-86-82).

Three teams, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Texas-San Antonio and tournament host McNeese State had a lead on the final day of the SLC Women's Golf Championship at Lake Charles Country Club, but the Islanders prevailed in the end, winning by one shot over the Roadrunners and six over the Cowgirls.

The Islanders finished the final round with a 300 and a 3-day total of 912, while UTSA shot a 300 in the final round and finished the tournament with a 913. McNeese State, who led after day one dropped down to third place after carding a 307 during the final round and an overall score of 918.

By claiming the championship, it is the Islander's first conference title in women's golf and sixth overall conference crown. With the crown the Islanders advance to the NCAA Regionals May 7-9 at one of three locations.

The rest of the field of eight consisted of Texas State (919/313-302-304), Central Arkansas (921/313-312-296), Sam Houston State (929/310-319-300), Lamar University (930/312-303-317) and Nicholls (952/310-330-312).

Individually, UTSA's Allie Jordan shot a final round 73 and won medalist honors by two strokes over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's Ashley Watkins and McNeese State's Lacy McKinley, as both players shot 71 and 76 respectively. Jordan shot a three day total of 222, which is the third best total in SLC history.