Mississippi State
Cougar Classic
Bulldogs Close Season Opener With a Top 5 Finish
September 17, 2014 | Women's Golf
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The weather might have been dreary, but the Mississippi State women's golf team was not. The Bulldogs shaved 12 strokes off their second-round tally to finish in a tie for fourth place at the prestigious Cougar Classic in Charleston, S.C.
The Bulldogs fired the second-lowest round of the day, carding an 8-under-par 280 to tie Virginia for fourth place. Entering the day in eighth, State conquered Yeamans Hall to claim a second-straight Top 5 finish at the tournament with a 3-under 861.
“Now today is the squad we work so hard to be -- focused on process, intense but relaxed and confident,” coach Ginger Brown-Lemm said. “I'm very proud of the team, and we will use this strong performance as we move into another elite event at Vanderbilt.”
Two Bulldogs finished in the top 15, with Ally McDonald tying for 13th place after firing a 4-under 68 that tied for the second-lowest round of the day. McDonald played bogey-free golf, carding three birdies on the front nine and another on the back.
Sophomore Jessica Peng led the Dawgs, tying for seventh at 6-under 210 following a final-round 69 on the par-72 course. Peng came out on fire, making birdie on her first two holes before adding another on the ninth. She drained birdies on Nos. 12, 16 and 18 before back-to-back bogeys on the 1st and 2nd put her at 3-under.
“Jessica had a great event at 6-under for 54 holes, and Ally fought her way to a Top-15 finish at 3-under for the tournament,” Brown-Lemm said.
Behind birdies on her last two holes, Ji Eun Baik shaved six shots off her second-round total and carded a 2-under 70, her best round of the tournament, to finish in a tie for 30th at 3-over 219.
Rica Tse used an eagle on No. 15 and a birdie on the first hole to card a final-round 74 (+2). Tse wrapped the event tied for 33rd with a 4-over 220.
After struggling in the opening two rounds, junior Logan Chaney shaved eight strokes off her Monday total to fire a final-round 73 that put at 236 for the three rounds.
The Bulldogs claimed the second-highest finish among the SEC teams in the field. Arkansas shot a 279 Tuesday to claim the team title with an 846 final score. Duke's Sandy Choi used a final-round 68 to best Wake Forest's Sierra Sims for the individual crown.
The Bulldogs head straight to Franklin, Tenn., for the Mason Rudolph Championship, which begins Friday.
Cougar Classic Team Results- Final Round
1. Arkansas (283+284+279=846, -18); 2. UCLA (290+279+284=853, -11); 3. Duke (294+280+282=856, -8); T4. Virginia (288+289+284=861, -3); T4. Miss. State (289+292+280=861, -3); 6. Wake Forest (282+287+293=862, -2); 7. Tennessee (294+293+281=868, +4); 8.UCF (288+288+295=871, +7); 9. N.C. State (287+285+301=873, +9); 10. Georgia (296+298+291=885, +21); 11. Wisconsin (299+291+298=888, +24); 12. Florida (297+298+294=889, +25); 13. College of Charleston (293+300+300=893, +29); 14. North Carolina (295+292+308=895, +31); 15. Charleston Southern (294+304+303=901, +37); 16. Clemson (309+291+304=904, +40); 17. Mississippi (298+303+304=905, +41); 18. Indiana (308+294+307=909, +45); 19. Penn State (307+300+303=910, +46); 20. Maryland (304+307+300=911, +47); 21. Baylor (304+304+304=912, +48); 22. Missouri (305+303+309=917, +53); 23. UNCG (307+313+313=933, +69).
MSU Player Results- Final Round
T7. Jessica Peng (68+73+69=210, -6)
T13. Ally McDonald (71+74+68=213, -3)
T30. Ji Eun Baik (73+76+70=219, +3)
T33. Rica Tse (77+69+74=220, +4)
103. Logan Chaney (82+81+73=236, +20)
Players Mentioned
