LAKE JOVITA, Fla. -- Barry women's golf team finished fifth at the Saint Leo Invitational Tuesday, dropping one spot in the team standings, despite cutting four strokes off its team total.
Barry shot 308-304 -- 612, finishing behind first-place Nova Southeastern, which shot a blistering 286 in the final round to finish at 586 in the two-round event at Lake Jovita Country Club's 6,140-yard course. First-rounder leader Lynn took second after finishing with a 306 in the final round for a 602. Florida Southern was third at 604, and Saint Leo fourth at 607.
Barry sophomore Nancy Vergara matched her personal best with a 1-under 71 to finish as the Buccaneers top individual at 150, earning her a tie for sixth place. First-round leader Nicky Ferre shot 80 in the second round, finishing a stroke behind Vergara in a tie for 10th. Both Vergara and Ferre matched the Buccaneers' sixth-best all-time round at 1-under in the tournament.
Nova Southeastern's Abbey Gittings won the tournament shot 2-under 142 to win the tourney. Teammates Linnea Johansson and Liliana Cammisa tied for second at 2-over 146.
Barry's Taylor Babcock tied for 16th at 154 after carding a 75 Tuesday. Babcock was 1-under in par-3 scoring, putting together a 2.88 average to match Vergara for the second-best effort in the event's statistical category. Vergara and Bucs teammate Daniela Murray each had five birdies in the 36-hole tournament, which was three shy of the leader. Murray and Ferre shot even-par on par-5 scoring holes.
Maria Paola Fiorio tied for 23rd after shooting 78 to finish at 157. Murray tied for 34th at 162.
The Bucs had 22 birdies as a team, which was five less than tournament-leader Nova.
Barry will compete in the Flagler Invitational next Monday and Tuesday in Saint Augustine, Fla., to compete the fall schedule.
2012 Saint Leo Invitational
Dates: 10/15-10/16
FINAL RESULTS
Fin. Top 20 Teams Scores
1 Nova Southeastern U. 300 286 586
2 Lynn University 296 306 602
3 Florida Southern 312 292 604
4 Saint Leo University 302 305 607
5 Barry University 308 304 612
6 Flagler College 313 322 635
7 Florida Tech 319 319 638
8 Mount Olive College 331 318 649
9 Florida Southern B 327 327 654
10 Columbus State 326 329 655
11 Tampa, U. of 345 352 697
12 Webber International 366 366 732
13 Johnson & Wales U-FL 379 373 752
14 Eckerd College 383 384 767
Fin. Top 20 Players School Scores
1 Abbey Gittings Nova SE 71 71 142
2 Linnea Johansson Nova SE 76 70 146
Liliana Cammisa Nova SE 75 71 146
4 Clare Connolly Saint Leo 74 73 147
5 Samantha Smolen Lynn 73 75 148
6 Nancy Vergara Barry (Fl) 79 71 150
Jessica Bradley Lynn 73 77 150
Megan Kiley Fl. South. 77 73 150
Ellen Chambers Lynn 73 77 150
10 Nicole Ferre Barry (Fl) 71 80 151
Amy Hodgkinson Fl. South. 79 72 151
Laura Huertas Saint Leo 75 76 151
Emily Rymer Fl. South. 80 71 151
14 Daniela Ortiz Nova SE 78 74 152
Barbara Vejlupkova Fl. South. 76 76 152
16 Marie Santacroce Flagler 79 75 154
Kimesha Anthony CSU 77 77 154
Taylor Babcock Barry (Fl) 79 75 154
19 Julie Loennechen Mt. Olive 76 79 155
Ragna Olafsdottir Saint Leo 74 81 155
Heather Petronis Saint Leo 79 76 155