Dawgs Earn Season-Best Second Place Finish at Magnolia Invitational

Monday, October 14

West Point, Miss. (Old Waverly GC)

All Day

Mississippi State

Magnolia Invitational

Dawgs Earn Season-Best Second Place Finish at Magnolia Invitational

October 14, 2019 | Women's Golf

Photos

by Shelby Spurlock, Student Assistant/Communications

WEST POINT, Miss. -- Mississippi State women's golf capped off its home tournament Monday by playing 36 holes in the Magnolia Invitational at Old Waverly Golf Club. The Bulldogs earned their best finish to date, second place in the heavy SEC event.

After battling the cold rainy weather on Sunday, State responded strong by posting 10 under-par for the second and third rounds combined, coming up a mere four strokes short of the win. The day was highlighted by an impressive performance across the board in the third round, when MSU recorded the fourth-lowest round in program history and a tournament low 279.

"It was a great day at Old Waverly for our "Stomp DAWGS" today," said head coach Ginger Brown-Lemm. "We are a great final round team, rising to the occasion and enjoying the competition. Yet again we showed we have what it takes to compete for championships. With multiple rounds of 4, 5 even 6 under par, we will continue to clean up a few bogey's that negate the hard work of so many birdies. Our short game and putting will continue to be our focus points as we prepare for our last event of the fall. Always great to host at home and show off our incredible facilities and hospitality of Mississippi State."

Three players went low in the final round, led by senior Athena Yang and sophomore Lauren Miller posting a pair of four-under par 68s. Yang had five birdies in the final round to tie for 16th with a total score of 221. Miller entered the day tied for 46th, and bounced back by climbing 30 spots behind an eagle and three birdies in the 3^rd round to finish tied for 16^th as well.

For the tournament, Mississippi State was paced by freshman Ashley Gilliam, who finished tied for third overall with a score of 6-under, 210. She shot 5-under par (67) in the second round and then followed that up by shooting 1-under par in the third. The Manchester, Tennessee, native has now posted back-to-back top-three finishes and ranks tied for third on MSU's all-time freshman lists for rounds of par or better rounds.

Senior Clara Moyano finished the invitational tied for 12th at 3-over par. She has now posted back-to-back top-15 finishes. Junior Aubree Jones rounded out State's starting five for the tournament by placing tied for 22nd.

Junior Blair Stockett, playing as an individual, tied for third in the event, carding a score of 210. Stockett's final round score of 66 (6-under par) tied for fourth-lowest score by a Bulldog in program history. Freshmen Abbey Daniel and Ally Williams both tied the event for 40th place with a score of 230 (14-over par).

After finishing third at The Schooner Fall Classic in September, Mississippi State has now posted two top-three finishes in a season for the first time since 2014-15.

Magnolia Invitational– Final Round
1. LSU (289+282+285=856, -8)
2. Mississippi State (294+287+279=860, -4)
2. Auburn (290+287+287=864, E)
4. Tennessee (295+289+282=866, +2)
5. Chattanooga (295+298+300=893, +29)
6. Kennesaw State (299+298+299=896, +32)
7. Tulsa (302+299+296=897, +33)
8. South Florida (320+292+294=906, +42)
9. Iowa (311+304+293=908, +44)
10. Memphis (321+307+303=931, +67)
11. Southern Mississippi (309+320+307=936, +72)

MSU Players- Final Round
T3. Ashley Gilliam (72+67+71=210, -6)
T12. Clara Moyano (72+75+72=219, +3)
T16. Lauren Miller (80+73+68=221, +5)
T16. Athena Yang (76+77+68=221, +5)
T22. Aubree Jones (74+72+77=223, +7)

T3. Blair Stockett (73+71+66=210, -6) *indiv.*
T40. Abbey Daniel (79+77+74=230, +14) *indiv.*
T40. Ally Williams (78+77+75=230, +14) *indiv.*