UM’s Gibson Qualifies for Women’s Golf National Championship

LAKELAND, FLA – The University of Montevallo’s Emily Gibson became the first Peach Belt women’s golfer in history to qualify for the NCAA National Championships as she finished third in the Super Regional which concluded on Tuesday at the Club at Eaglebrook.    Gibson fired a final round 73 to finish tied for 12th in the regional. The top three teams and top three individuals not on those teams advance. Gibson finished as the second individual not on one of the top three teams. She shot a three-round score of 226 good for 10-over par.  CSU’s Kimesha Anthony tied for 25th, also playing as an individual.

In the team competition, UNC Pembroke finished eighth with a three-round score of 943 while Flagler was ninth with a 957.

Gibson will travel to The Meadows in Allendale, Mich. May 11-14 for the National Championships. She is the only Peach Belt Conference golfer to advance to the finals. Katja Dammann from UNC Pembroke was the next highest PBC finisher with a three round score of 233.

Three Sunshine State Conference schools took the top three team spots. Nova Southeastern finished first with a score of 875. Rollins came in second at 888 and Florida Southern finished third at 892.

The three individuals advancing to the NCAA Championships are Rita Kim of Belmont Abbey who finished tied for sixth, Gibson who finished tied for 12th and Mary Tunnell from Carson-Newman who finished in 14th.

Gibson who is ranked 39th by Golfstat finished ahead of seven players who were ranked higher in the standings including #13 Nicole Whitmore of Nova Southeastern and #14 Silvie Dittertova of Florida Southern.

Anthony finished in a tie for 25th with a three round score of 234, improving 17 spots in the standing after a first day score of 82.  Anthony posted a two-over 38 on both the front and back nine.  She bogeyed three of the first six holes before bouncing back with a birdie on hole number seven.  On the back nine, Anthony pared all but the 11th and 15th hole.

UNC Pembroke senior Katja Dammann closed out her UNCP career with a third-round score of 78 (76-79-78-233) to finish in a tie for 23rd overall. Sophomore Shauna Walor finished next on the list with a 76 on the third round (80-78-76-234) which placed her in a tie for 25th overall.

Sophomore Meghan Moore finished in a tie for 29th overall after a three-round score of 236 (74-82-80) left her tied for 29th and freshmen Dana Watkins (81-80-80-241) and Kelly Sumner (80-85-83-248) finished 39th and 44th, respectively.

Flagler’s Elin Karlsson (Vanersborg, Sweden, Vaxjo Fria Gymnasium) finished in a tie for 29th place with a 20-over 236. She carded a 6-over 78 in the final round. She carded an 11-over 83 today. Seenath recorded one birdie and five pars. Lauren Benetti (Celebration, Fla., Daytona State College) and Leslie Choucard (Chessy, France, Mercer University) tied for 41st. Both finished with a 27-over 243. Benetti shot a 9-over 81 today while Choucard had the best round of the regional of any Flagler player with a 4-over 76. Marissa Marinan (Niceville, Fla, Niceville HS) tied for 43rd place with a 29-over 245. Victoria Seenath (Toronto, Ontario, Seminole State College of Florida) rounded out the Flagler contingent with a 33-over 249 and finished in 46th place.

NCAA Division II Super Regional #2
Dates: 5/1-5/3, 2011
Par-Yardage: 72-6255

Fin. Top 20 teams Scores
1 Nova Southeastern 291-294-290=875
2 Rollins 295-298-295=888
3 Florida Southern 309-289-294=892
4 Carson-Newman 309-309-303=921
5 Belmont Abbey 318-305-299=922
6 Saint Leo 306-314-310=930
7 Newberry 317-309-311=937
8 UNC Pembroke 310-319-314=943
9 Flagler 327-317-313=957

Fin Top 10 players Scores
1 Sandra Changkija (NSU) 72-68-74=214 (-2)
2 Abbey Gittings (NSU) 73-76-68=217 (+1)
t3 Joanna Coe (RC) 71-74-75=220 (+4)
t3 Taylor Collins (NSU) 73-76-71=220 (+4)
t3 Fabia Rothenfluh (RC) 71-74-75=220 (+4)
t6 Megan Kiley (FSC) 77-72-72=221 (+5)
t6 Rita Kim (BAC) 77-70-74=221 (+5)
8 Brianna Seo (RC) 77-73-72=222 (+6)
t9 Melanie Audette (FSC) 76-71-76=223 (+7)
t9 Emily Flanigan (FSC) 79-71-73=223 (+7)