Barry Women's Golf Qualifies for NCAA Championships

PACE, Fla. -- Barry University women's golf team qualified for the NCAA Division II National Championships after finishing third in the South Regional Tuesday.

It marks only the second time in the program's history the Bucs qualified for nationals, also doing so in 2002.

And they did it with four freshmen.

Ranked No. 6 in the country, Barry finished third at the regional, shooting 317 in the final round to hold onto the final spot to the NCAA Championships. The top three teams and top three individuals not on a qualifying team qualify for nationals.

Barry freshman Nancy Vergara finished fourth overall, shooting 4-over 220.

Florida Southern won the region title with a three-day score of 902 at the 6,154-yard Stonebrook Golf Club. Nova Southeastern was second at 914, eight shots ahead of Barry. Saint Leo finished fourth, two strokes behind the Bucs. Lynn was fifth, four strokes behind Barry's final qualifying spot.

Nova's Lilliana Camisa won the tournament, shooting 4-under 212. North Carolina-Pembroke's Meghan Moore was second at even-par 216, and Nova's Abbey Gittings third at 2-over 218.

Barry junior Taylor Babcock finished tied for 14th after shooting 229. Freshman Daniela Murray tied for 29th at 237. Freshman Francesca Perini closed the tournament with back-to-back rounds in the 70s to figure into the Bucs' scoring with a 240. Freshman Paola Grande finished with a 241.

Moore, Saint Leo's Goeun Lee (222) and Armstrong Atlantic's Jenna Birch (223) each qualified as individuals.  Birch won a playoff over Rollins' Kayla Sciupider. Birch chipped it in from behind the green from roughly 13 feet for a birdie on the 357-yard No. 1 hole to win the playoff.

The Buccaneers will compete in the NCAA Championships May 15-19 at Persimmon Ridge Golf Course in Louisville, Ky.

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