Golden Eagles Finish Second at Tchefuncta Invitational

COVINGTON, La. -- The Southern Miss women's golf team finished in second place today at the Tchefuncta Invitational in Covington, La., and it marked the best finish for the program in nearly five years. It was also the best finish of the Lucy Nunn Burke era -- the previous best was a pair of third place finishes.

"I'm extremely proud of this group," Nunn Burke said. "The challenge for today was to take care of the little things and we hung tough. This shows our group that we are really close and I'm excited to have some time at home before we head to Arizona."

Southern Miss saved its best score for last and slid past Incarnate Word today after firing a team total of 294. It was two strokes better than the 296 it fired in the first round, which also put them in first place after 18 holes for the time being. South Alabama shot a 293 today to take home first place.

Junior Friend Chompitakdacha carded a team-low one-under par 70 today and finished tied for seventh. It was one off her career high that she set at the Conference USA Championships last season, but it took give her the best finish of her Southern Miss career. Sophomore Merche Corbacho shot a seven-over 78 in her final round to finish tied for seventh. The seventh place finish was the best of her career and highest since finishing in ninth at the Conference USA Championships last season.

Freshman Momoka Ando shot her lowest round of the tournament on Tuesday after recording a three-over 74 to finish in 12^th. Freshman Elena Melich utilized her final round to climb up to 21^st after shooting a one-over 72, her lowest score of the tournament. Melich and Ando combined for three birdies to go along with Southern Miss' 25 total birdies over the 54-hole event.

Jacee Fields finished in a tie for 36^th and Icie Cockerham finished in a tie for 40^th. Cockerham drained a birdie putt on hole 12 en route to shooting a five-over 76 today. It was one stroke off her career best.

The Golden Eagles led all teams in par five scoring at 5.18 strokes per hole and finished eight-over par for the tournament on the long holes.

Individual Leaderboard
T7. Friend Chompitakdacha (77-76-70-223)
T7. Merche Corbacho (68-77-78-223)
12. Momoka Ando (75-77-74-226)
T21. Elena Melich (76-83-72-231)
T36. Jacee Fields (77-76-83-233)
T40. Icie Cockerham (82-79-76-237)

Team Leaderboard
1. South Alabama
2. Southern Miss
3. Incarnate Word
4. Little Rock
5. ULM
6. UAB
7. Toledo
8. UT Arlington
9. Murray State

Golden Eagles Finish Second at Tchefuncta Invitational

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Players Mentioned

Momoka Ando

Friend Chompitakdacha

Icie Cockerham

Merche Corbacho

Jacee Fields

Elena Melich