University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics
Winthrop Invitational
Spartans Finish 6th at Winthrop Invitational
10/9/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Rock Hill, S.C. – USC Upstate turned in a final round 317 and moved up one position on the leaderboard to finish sixth at the Winthrop Invitational Sunday afternoon in women's golf action at the Rock Hill Country Club.
Upstate rebounded from a 337 in the first round to lower its team score by 20 strokes on Sunday. The 317 effort moved the Spartans up a spot from seventh to sixth place in the tournament. Upstate nearly picked up a second spot on the leaderboard, finishing just two shots out of fifth place. Rachel Lewis (Llanishen, Wales) finished tied for 15th for her fourth career top 15 position.
Gardner-Webb entered the day with a one-stroke lead and won the team championship by five shots over Winthrop. The Bulldogs finished with a 36-hole 615 total. Winthrop was second at 620 and was followed by Presbyterian College (621), Appalachian State (623), Bethune-Cookman (652), Upstate (654), St. Francis (Pa.) (666) and The Citadel (672).
Lewis led the Spartans in the tournament. She and Amanda Hall (Tega Cay, S.C.) each shot 78 on Sunday to lead the Upstate cause. Lewis finished the tournament with a 159 total and in a tie for 15th. Hall finished three strokes back at 162 and in a tie for 23rd.
Brittany Lowe (Spartanburg, S.C.) carded an 80 and finished 28th with a 165 total. Taylor Pleier (Spartanburg, S.C.) finished with an 81 on Sunday and with a 168 tournament total and in a tie for 32nd place. The top four Spartans each improved their scores from Saturday's first round. Madison Bryant finished with a 91 on Sunday and a 180 tournament total.
Appalachian State's Lauren Smith held the lead heading into Sunday's final round after shooting a 1-over-par 71. Despite her score rising to a 78 on Sunday, Smith won the individual title by a stroke with a 149 total.
