Fifth ranked Eagles finish tied for third at Sun Conference Championship

Austin Quinn, ERAU Athletics
April 23, 2012
Filed under Sports

The fifth-ranked Embry-Riddle women’s golf team shot 312 and finished tied for third Saturday at the 2012 Sun Conference Women’s Golf Championship at LPGA International. The Eagles were able to erase four strokes from their first round of 316, but it was not enough as they were unable to capture the programs eighth conference championship.

The Blue and Gold finished the seven team, 32-player tournament with a 36-hole total of 628 (316-312) 16 strokes back of the winner.

Fabys Barreto-Guzman and Connie Pitenis paced the Eagle women on the final day of play on LPGA International’s Legends course. Barreto-Guzman, who was named to the All- Sun Conference Team for the second consecutive year, finished tied for sixth with a 156 (79-77). The senior knocked down six birdie putts on the tournament and had an even 5.00 par five scoring average.

Pitenis, who earned All-Sun Conference honors for the first time as an Eagle, also garnered a top-10 finish coming in the clubhouse tied for eighth with a 157 (80-77). The junior had 22 pars in the 36-hole tournament.

Pia Jekno and Heather Wiquist were the third and fourth low scorers for the No. 5 Eagles. Jenko finished two strokes back of Pitenis tied for 15th with a 159 (81-78), while Wiquist was one shot back of Jenko tied for 17th with a 160 (76-84).

Bea Serra, who was the only other Eagle to be named to the All-Sun Conference team, battled back on the final day of play, shooting 80 after struggling with an 89 on Friday. The junior shaved nine strokes off of her first round score and finished in 22nd with a 169 (89-80).

Although the Eagles didn’t bring home the title, the Eagle women still have a chance to make a run for a national championship as they have a chance at getting an at-large bid to the 2012 NAIA National Championship Tournament on May 17-20 in Greeneville, Tenn.