East Carolina University
Conference USA Championships
Lady Pirate Golfers Come Up Short In Title Defense
April 25, 2007 | Women's Golf
April 25, 2007
Final Individual Results (PDF)
ONEONTA, Ala. - The East Carolina women's golf team fell two strokes short of claiming back-to-back Conference USA Championships this week as it finished second after carding a tournament score of 914 (314-302-298), just behind Memphis' mark of 310-297-305=912.
Claiming a share of third place was UCF (309-307-306), UTEP (308-302-312) and SMU (308-309-305) all with scores of 922, followed by Tulsa (935), Marshall (966), Southern Miss (967) and UAB (9684).
Individually, Gerina Mendoza (UTEP) took home the tournament title after firing a nine-under par 207 (68-68-71), while Memphis' Stacey Tate finished five strokes off at four-under par (73-71-68=212) marking the only two golfers to finish under par.
Four Pirates finished in the top-20 with sophomore Lene Krog (75-76-74=225) claiming a share of fifth place, freshman duo of Abby Bools (77-79-70=226) taking home seventh and Ana Maria Puche (81-74-75=230) tying for 11th and Emelie Lind (81-74-79=234) finishing tied for 14th.
After taking an eight-stroke lead into the final round of the 2007 C-USA Championship to earn medalist honors, UTEP senior Gerina Mendoza has been selected the C-USA Golfer of the Year in a vote by the nine women's golf head coaches. UCF rookie Sara Hurwitch was named the Freshman of the Year, while Memphis head coach Jenny Bruun was named the 2007 Coach of the Year.
Mendoza entered this year's championship rated 13th nationally by Golfstat. She carded back-to-back rounds of 68 to take a convincing lead into the final day of championship competition and held on to win her fourth individual title. During the regular season, Mendoza also won medalist honors at the ORU Shootout in the fall, the Donnis Thompson Invitational and the UALR/NT Golf Classic. She is joined on the All-Conference USA first team by Memphis senior Stacey Tate, who placed second in the 2007 C-USA Championship, SMU junior Lacey Jones and Mustang sisters Jennifer and Kate Ackerson.
Hurwitch posted two Top 10 finishes during her rookie campaign, placing in a tie for sixth at the Lady Pirate Invitational in October and the Ryder Florida Women's Collegiate Challenge earlier this month. Besides receiving C-USA Freshman of the Year honors, she was selected to the All-Conference USA second team. She is joined on the second team by the Tulsa tandem of Michaela Cavener and Leisl Hasbrouck, UTEP Jullianne Kim and East Carolina sophomore Lene Krog, who was named the 2006 C-USA Freshman of the Year.
Memphis head coach Jenny Bruun was named the 2007 Coach of the Year, leading her Tigers the 2007 Championship title, their third C-USA Women's Golf Championship title in school history (1997, 2001). A pair of Tigers were named to the conference's third team in junior Dawn-Marie Conaty and sophomore Rachel Larson. They were joined by East Carolina freshmen Abby Bools and Ana Marie Puche, and UCF sophomore Stephanie Connelly.
Final Team Results:
1. Memphis (+48)
2. East Carolina (+50)
T3. UCF (+58)
T3. Texas El Paso, U. of (+58)
T3. Southern Methodist (+58)
6. Tulsa (+71)
7. Marshall University (+102)
8. Southern Mississippi (+103)
9. UAB (+120)
2007 C-USA WOMEN'S GOLF AWARDS
Golfer of the Year
Gerina Mendoza, UTEP
Freshman of the Year
Sara Hurwitch, UCF
Coach of the Year
Jenny Bruun, Memphis
All-Conference First Team
Jennifer Ackerson, SMU
Kate Ackerson, SMU
Lacey Jones, SMU
Gerina Mendoza, UTEP
Stacey Tate, Memphis
All-Conference Second Team
Michaela Cavener, Tulsa
Leisl Hasbrouck, Tulsa
Sara Hurwitch, UCF
Jullianne Kim, UTEP
Lene Krog, East Carolina
All-Conference Third Team
Abby Bools, East Carolina
Dawn-Marie Conaty, Memphis
Stephanie Connelly, UCF
Rachel Larson, Memphis
Ana Maria Puche, East Carolina
All-Tournament Team
Gerina Mendoza, UTEP (medalist)
Stacey Tate, Memphis
Kate Ackerson, SMU
Stephanie Connelly, UCF
Jennifer Ackerson, SMU
Lene Krog, East Carolina
