September 20, 2010

Fears Captures EAT A PEACH Title as Women’s Golf Wins Home Tournament

MACON, Ga. – Mercer freshman Lacey Fears out-dueled Shorter’s Greta Lange in a playoff hole to capture her first collegiate career tournament win in Monday’s final round of the 2010 EAT A PEACH Collegiate at Oak View Golf Course.  As a team, Mercer shot a 300 in the final round, winning the event by 24 strokes over Shorter.

After leading the field by 17 strokes on Sunday, the Mercer women recorded the lowest cumulative team score for the second-straight round on Monday, extending its lead on the field to 24 strokes.

Mercer (594) outshot Shorter (618), Flagler (626), Armstrong Atlantic State and Columbus State (654), West Georgia (655), Young Harris (678), SCAD Atlanta (699), Coastal Georgia (717), North Georgia (727), and Truett-McConnell (878).

After posting a one-under 71 in Monday’s first round, Fears fired an even-par 72 on Monday.  Lange, who posted a 74 on Sunday, fired a tournament-low 69 in the final round to force a playoff with Fears.

The playoff hole, Oak View’s 461-yard, par five first hole, yielded an average score of 5.97 through regulation play.  After the tee shots from both players, Fears held the advantage, out-driving her competitor by 20 yards.

Fears’ second shot found the fairway again, leaving the Warner Robins native a short wedge shot to the green.  Lange’s second shot found the first cut of rough, and moments later she hit her third attempt over the raised green.

With the door open, Fears knocked her third shot to within 20 feet of the cup.  Lange ultimately signed for a triple-bogey and Fears two-putted, clinching the win.

All told, Mercer had three players finish in the top five of the individual standings.  Fears’ classmate, Mary Alice Murphy, carded a one-over 73 on Monday, finishing just two strokes outside the playoff.

Junior Alicia Poole followed Sunday’s 74 with a 78 and finished in fifth place individually.

 Senior Kayli Wicker wound up in eighth place individually after shooting 75 on Monday.  Wicker’s two-day total of 154 gave the Orange Park, Fla. native her second top-10 finish since the fall of 2009.

Mercer sophomores’ Aurelie Wiriath and Kimmy Graff both used 156 strokes in two days and tied for 10^th place.  Keri Lynn Carson’s 79 on Monday mirrored her first round total and gave the junior a tie for 14^th place individually.

Sophomore Kaitlin Marrin took home 23^rd (162) while sophomore Jessica Arthur (171) tied for 37^th to round out Mercer’s competitors.

Mercer returns to action on Oct. 8-10 in the LPGA International hosted by Xavier.