Barry University women’s golf team finished third at the Tusculum Collegiate Invitational Sunday in Kiawah Island, S.C.
The Buccaneers shot a 34-over 610, closing Sunday’s season-opening final round with a 307. Lynn University shot a final round 285, winning the event with a 6-over 582. Florida Southern was second at 25-over 601.
Barry’s Taylor Babcock shot a final round 76, finishing seventh with a 4-over 148. Armstrong Atlantic’s Kristen Sammarco shot 74-70 – 144, and won in a playoff hole over Lynn’s Jessica Bradley, who fired a 1-under 71 Sunday to finish even par for the two-day event.
Host Tusculum College was fourth with a 49-over 625.
Barry’s Nancy Vergara shot a final-round 74 to finish 18th at 11-over 155. Francesca Perini and Daniela Murray tied for 24th after carding two-day 158 scores. Lizzi Over shot 159, finishing in a tie for 28th place.
“If you look at it overall, I haven’t had seven healthy players all year,” Buccaneers coach Gina Umeck said. “A third place finish with our No. 1 qualifier, Paola Grande sitting at home sick, it’s really encouraging. I’m pleased with how we did. Absolutely.
“I think the chemistry is 100 percent better than last year. I think everybody’s really pleased.”
Sunshine State Conference rivals, Barry and Lynn, are separated by 30 minutes, and in this case 28 strokes. But that was only for a two-day event. Or at least that’s how Umeck sees it.
“Lynn had a really good day,” the Bucs coach said. “Two-eighty five is an excellent score. There’s Division I teams that couldn’t shoot that.
“Of those that weren’t there, the sky’s the limit. It’s a totally different squad from last year. It’s unchartered waters for me.”