| Senior Allie Jordan became the first player in school history to win an individual SLC Championship. |
LAKE CHARLES, La. ? Senior Allie Jordan carded a final-round 73, finishing with a two-day total of 222, and she became the first player in school history to win an individual Southland Conference Championship on Wednesday at the Lake Charles Country Club (par 72/5,956 yards).
Jordan, who carded rounds of 73 and 76 on Tuesday, held off Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s Ashley Watkins and McNeese State’s Lacy McKinley by two strokes for the title. Her one-over-par helped the Roadrunners shoot a 301 in the final round and the Birds just missed the team championship with their three-round total of 913 (309-303-301).
"I really wanted to finish my career off with a bang," Jordan said. "It's exciting to end as an individual champion, but it's just as disappointing to miss the team title by just one stroke. I knew I had to play smart and be accurate if I was going to be successful today. I used the same approach that I did yesterday, but I was able tomake up for some of the mistakes I made in the first two rounds."
Holding slim one shot lead entering the final hole of play, UTSA was unable to hold off Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, which won the team crown with its two-day score of 912 (308-304-300). The Islanders overcame an early four-shot deficit to win the title, which was capped off by Courtney Peeler’s birdie on the 18th hole.
The second-place performance by the Roadrunners was the best in the program's brief three-year history.
"I am very proud of every single player on this team," first-year head coach Carrie Cole said. "We have come a long way since the beginning of the season. Today's finish was extremely disappointing, but it doesn't take away from what this group accomplished this spring. Allie had an outstanding tournament and for her to finish her career as a champion shows what kind of senior leader she has been for us this year."
Junior Madison McClain finished the event in 10th place following her final-round 76, which gave her a two-day card of 229 (78-75-76). Meanwhile, senior Laura Baker posted a 231 (81-73-77) and finished in a tie for 15th place.
Team Standings
1. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 308-304-300?912; 2. UTSA, 309-303-301?913; 3. McNeese State, 305-306-307?918; 4. Texas State, 313-302-304?919; 5. Central Arkansas, 313-312-296?921; 6. Sam Houston State, 310-319-300?929; 7. Lamar, 312-303-317?932; 8. Nicholls, 310-330-312?952.
Individual Standings
1. Allie Jordan, UTSA, 73-76-73?222; t-2. Lacy McKinley, MSU, 74-74-76?224; t-2. Ashley Watkins, TAMU-CC, 76-77-71?224; t-4. Wendy Joyner, SHSU, 76-77-72?225; t-4. Linda Persson, LU, 76-74-75?226.
UTSA Standings
t-10. Madison McClain, 78-75-76?229; t-15. Laura Baker, 81-73-77?231; t-29. Shelly Martinez, 77-87-75?239; t-33. Shannon Jungman; 86-79-77?242.