March 12, 2006

Columbia, SC - The 17th-ranked Virginia women's golf team saw its chances of posting its best-ever tournament finish fade late during its final round at South Carolina's Lady Gamecock Classic, but still managed to place fourth in the 11-team field. The Cavaliers have posted a top-five finish in all seven tournaments this season.

Virginia shot a disappointing 308 during Sunday's final round at the University Club to complete the three-day event at 35-over 899. Sixth-ranked Auburn took first place honors by 18 strokes at 15-over 879. Tennessee, ranked 14th, was second at 897 while Florida State placed fourth at 898. UVa was eight shots better than 11th-ranked Wake Forest, which was seventh and the only other top-20 team in the field.

The Cavaliers, which have never finished higher than third in a tournament in the three-year history of the program, appeared to have the runner up spot locked up midway through their round. The opportunity slipped away when UVa's four scoring players combined to shoot 14-over during their final nine holes.

The tournament was not without several footnotes for the Virginia program. The Cavaliers' second-round score of 1-over 289 was the best 18-hole performance ever by a UVa team. Junior Leah Wigger led the Cavaliers with a 5-over 221 to place seventh. It was her sixth top-10 finish this year in seven events.

Carly Truitt's 73 was UVa's best final-round effort. It allowed her to move up to 13th place at 9-over 225. Jennie Arseneault shot 79 Sunday and was 17th at 226. Rachel Smith was 28th at 230 while Lauren Mielbrecht was 47th at 238.

Auburn's Maria Martinez ran away with medalist honors at 5-under 211. Florida State's Caroline Westrup was second at 216.

The Cavaliers return to the links for the Bryan National Collegiate at Greensboro's Bryan Park Champions Course March 31 through April 2. The tournament will serve as UVa's final regular-season tournament before the ACC Championships in mid-April.

Team Results
 1. Auburn                 304-278-297-879
 2. Tennessee              300-288-309-897
 3. Florida State          302-295-301-898
 4. Virginia               302-289-308-899
 5. Furman                 301-300-302-903
 6. NC State               303-293-308-906
 7. Wake Forest            305-294-308-907
 8. South Carolina         314-297-303-914
 9. Augusta State          314-292-311-917
10. East Tennessee State   319-305-312-934
11. Minnesota              330-323-318-971
Top Individuals
 1. Maria Martinez, Auburn            73-68-70-211
 2. Caroline Westrup, Florida State   70-74-72-216
 3. Golda Johansson, Tennessee        72-72-74-218
 3. Blair Lamb, Furman                75-72-73-218
 4. Nicole Hage, Auburn               74-69-76-219
 6. Caroline Larsson, Florida State   73-71-75-220
 7. Leah Wigger, Virginia             74-70-76-221
 8. Margaret Shirley, Auburn          77-72-73-222
 8. Nicole Smith, Tennessee           74-69-79-222
10. Kathleen Ekey, Furman             74-76-73-223
Virginia Results
 7. Leah Wigger             74-71-76-221
13. Carly Truitt            75-77-73-225
17. Jennie Arseneault       74-73-79-226
28. Rachel Smith            79-71-80-230
47. Lauren Mielbrecht       83-74-81-238