April 22, 2007

RICHMOND, Va. - The Xavier women's golf team shot their best round of the CAA Women's Championship tournament Sunday to finish in third place, four strokes ahead of Richmond.  XU shaved nine strokes off their round from the day before but were not able to catch surging Georgia State as they carded the best team round of the day.  The final day at Homestead Resort was highlighted by three Xavier golfers finishing in the top 10.

UNC-Wilmington's Ashley Tait held off teammate Carmen Perez-Narbon and Georgia State's Joanna Klatten to win the individual title with a final of 222 strokes (+6).  Klatten carded the low round of the day, a two-under 70, but could not catch the consistency of Tait.  UNC-Wilmington held off Georgia State by 14 strokes to close out the team title.  Freshman Mary Beth McKenna felt that Xavier's distance off the tee would help them gain ground on a course of twelve total par fours and fives, but the Musketeers maintained their top three position on a beautiful day in Virginia.

Senior Kathleen Hardy and McKenna saved their best for last, improving on their previous rounds to climb the standings.  Hardy tied for 6th at (+16) with her three-over par 75, also tying her low tournament score of the season.  McKenna and senior Kara Manis were not far behind in a tie for eighth place (234, +18).  Manis, an All-CAA First Team member, fired a 77 to close out the tournament while McKenna, an All-CAA Second Team member, carded a 76.

After her team-leading round from the day before, junior Diana Torry shot a nine-over par 81 to finish the tournament in a tie for 21st.  Sophomore Lindsay Cornell finished her tournament performance in a tie for 25th at 29-over par. 

Xavier concluded their season with an excellent overall performance, highlighted by the play of the season's top three golfers:  Senior Kara Manis, senior Kathleen Hardy, and freshman Mary Beth McKenna.  The team will miss the contributions of their two seniors, but will especially look forward to the play of McKenna next year and the leadership of next year's seniors Diana Torry and Erin Gore.  Keep posted to www.GOXAVIER.com for information on the accolades earned by Manis and McKenna.