OCTOBER 28, 2001
AUBURN, U.S. AM CHAMP WIN 31ST ANNUAL LADY PALADIN
FURMAN FINISHES 10TH
GREENVILLE, South Carolina -- Top-ranked Auburn and reigning U.S. Amateur Champion Meredith Duncan of LSU each held onto the lead in Sunday's final round of the Lady Paladin Invitational golf tournment, to win team and medalist honors, respectively.
Auburn carded a 294, the low round of the tournament, to win over second-place Wake Forest by four strokes with a three-day 893 total. The Demon Deacons, ranked 22nd in the latest poll, were 12 strokes better than third place LSU and 18 ahead of fourth-place Florida.
Duncan meanwhile, entered the final round with a two stroke advantage over Wake Forest's Nuria Clau, and recorded a final-day 73 to finish at 216, three strokes ahead of Clau's 219 tally. Auburn's Danielle Downey was the third place finisher at 222, while four individuals tied for fourth at 223. Defending Lady Paladin Champion Celeste Troche fired a final-round 74 to total 224 for the tournament and place eighth in the individual race.
The hosting Lady Paladins of Furman recorded a 301 in the final round and finished 10th with a 927 team tally. Junior Leigh Turner had the low round of the field Sunday, shooting 71 to move into 16th individually. Furman teammate Brandi Jackson fired a 73 to finish 21st (230), while Cimmie Shahan placed 35th after carding a 78 (233), Sarah Johnston took 50th at 236, and Tara Schultz finished 105th at 264.
The Lady Paladin Invitational was the last tournament of the fall for Furman. The Lady Paladins will open the spring season March 15, at the Lady Gamecock Invitational.