Feb. 21, 2007

NEW LONDON, N.C. - West Florida defeated five Top 25 teams in the Lady Falcon Invitation in New London, N.C. yesterday. The invitational was hosted by 15th ranked Pfeiffer University. It consisted of 15 teams, two rounds and 36 holes. West Florida shot a 653, five shots ahead of 14th ranked Newberry College.

Pfeiffer and 16th ranked USC-Upstate finished in a tie for third at 661. Tusculum landed in fifth with a 665, and eighth ranked Grand Valley State was sixth at 670. No. 21 Catawba College shot a 676 for seventh place, and Belmont Abbey College finished eighth with a 682.

Clara Fornella (Montevideo, Uruguay) was the top UWF golfer for the tournament. She finished in a tie for sixth with Richelle Wedzik of USC-Upstate. She shot a 159 (80,79,+15). Sarah Nicholson (Cedar Falls, Iowa / Cedar Falls HS) shot a 162 (84,78,+18) for a ninth place finish. Victoria Jackson (Ft. Walton Beach, Fla. / Ft. Walton Beach HS) was tied for 16th with a 167 (79,88,+23). Natalia Espinosa (Bogota, Colombia) landed in a tie for 22nd with a 168 (82,86,+25). Rachel Christ (Charlotte, N.C. / Univ. of Charlotte) shot a 173 (88,85,+29) and finished in a tie for 38th.

Jean Chua of Division I Wake Forest won the individual title with a 151. West Florida had a three shot lead over Pfeiffer, and four shot lead over Newberry through round one.

West Florida plays at the Samford Intercollegiate in Calera, Ala. on March 19-20.