Texas A&M
Alamo Invitational
A&M Vaults to Third-Place Finish
Nov 01, 2011 | Women's Golf
SAN ANTONIO - The 17th-ranked Texas A&M women's golf team rallied to a third-place finish Tuesday in the final round of the Alamo Invitational at Briggs Ranch Golf Course.
The Aggies, who started the third round in eight place, climbed five spots up the leaderboard to finish in the top 5 for the third straight tournament and to match their best finish this fall.
Texas A&M fired an 880 (298-290-292) for the three-day event - its lowest total this fall. Host UTSA took home the team title with a score of 866 (293-283-290) and was followed by Baylor with 869 (293-283-293). Kentucky (883) and Nebraska (884) round out the first five.
"I am very proud of this team and what they accomplished today," said A&M head coach Trelle McCombs. "We set out to make a comeback and we ended up shooting the second-best score of the day and moving up five spots. This team had a lot of heart and didn't let the fact that we were several shots out of the lead affect them. It wasn't anything special that we did today; we truly left a ton of birdies out there. We just couldn't quite get our putters hot this week."
Sophomore Katerina Ruzickova carded another 1-under 71 and ascended the leaderboard to finish tied for fifth with an even-par 216 (74-71-71) - her lowest tournament total this season and fourth top 10 finish. She was just three strokes off the top finisher, UTSA's Fabiola Arriaga (213).
"Katerina played another great tournament," added McCombs. "She is so solid coming down the stretch. Yesterday, I walked 16 holes with her after she made two bogeys on the first two holes. She ended up shooting 71 and I believe she carried that over into today. She never looked rattled out there. She's a special player and one that I'm glad plays on our team as opposed to playing against us. She's had a great start to her year and I look for her to work hard in the off season to improve even more."
Freshman Patricia Garcia turned in her best collegiate round Tuesday with a 1-under 71 and placed tied for 21st with 222 (75-76-71), while junior Sarah Beth Davis tied for 17th with 221 (74-72-75). Both tallied their lowest totals of the season.
"I'm very proud of Patty, my freshman," McCombs said. "She really had a great game plan going into today and stuck to it. For her to finish her fall season with a round under par is awesome for her confidence."
Junior Mary Michael Maggio tied for 27th with 224 (76-73-75) and sophomore Natalie Reeves finished 45th with 228 (75-74-79). Junior Susy Grunden, who competed as in individual, tied for 61st with 235 (74-85-76).
The Alamo Invitational was the final of four fall events for McCombs and the Aggies. The team opens its spring schedule at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate in New Orleans, La., Feb. 26-28.
"All in all, I'm am extremely proud of these girls and really look forward to the spring and making a run at the postseason," McCombs said.
Players Mentioned
