East Carolina University
Day 2
ECU Claims Second-Straight UNCW Seahawk Classic Title
March 26, 2012 | Women's Golf
March 26, 2012
WALLACE, N.C. - East Carolina erased a three-stroke deficit in the final round of the 2012 UNCW Seahawk Classic Sunday afternoon to capture its second consecutive team championship title at River Landing Golf Course.
The Pirates (93-34) set a school and tournament record with their 54-hole total of 866 (292-288-286), smashing UNC Wilmington's total of 884 in 2007 by 18 strokes. Old Dominion finished second at 872 (294-289-289), first and second round leader Longwood wound up third at 873 (291-286-296) and host UNCW came in fourth at 887 (296-296-295).
ECU had a 580 total heading into Sunday's final round, but carded a 286 in the last round to overtake Longwood and edge ODU. The Pirates had two below-par scores in the last round to help head coach Kevin Williams and his club successfully defends their crown.
"I am very proud of the way we played this week," said Williams. "It is hard to win championships, and to comeback from three strokes down to win our second-straight Seahawk Classic is a great accomplishment. We played with great consistency and made very few mistakes."
James Madison's Nicole Sakamoto fashioned a 212 (70-70-72) for first place on the individual leaderboard, edging ODU's Samantha Morrell by just one stroke. Morrell finished at 213 (73-70-70) for second place and Longwood's Cameron Carter came in third at 214 (73-66-75). Carter's 6-under-par 66 in the second round matched the tournament record established by UNCW's Carmen Perez-Narbon in 2007.
For ECU, freshman Katie Kirk shot a career-best 1-under 215 (72-72-71) to finish fourth, three shots behind Sakamoto. Redshirt sophomore Faith Hardison fired and even par 216 (71-72-73) for a share of fifth place, while senior Amy Otteson (73-72-72=217) finished one stroke behind Hardison in eighth place. Rounding out the Pirates squad were sophomore Fanny Wolte (77-72-70=219) and freshman Emily Eng (76=80=78=234), who finished 11th and tied for 35th respectively.
The 11 teams wrapped up the first 18 holes on Saturday when play was suspended due to darkness and resumed play early Sunday. An extended weather delay occurred again Sunday before play was completed.
ECU will be back in action on April 9-10 when it travels to Melbourne, Fla. to participate in the Knights' n Pirates Invitational.
Players Mentioned
