Women's Golf Ties For 12th At NCAA

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The Alabama women's golf team concluded play in the 2008 NCAA Championship with a final score of 1,215 (+63) to finish in a tie for 12th place. The Crimson Tide turned in a final round score of 302 (+14), its second-best round of the championship.

"When you take a step back and you look at the season, you have to be happy," Alabama Coach Mic Potter said. "We wanted to change our mindset from years past from just being happy to be here to compete for a national championship. I think we did that. It was an awkward tournament with the weather. We can do better. We will learn from this and come back stronger next year."

Southern California won the team title with a score of 1,168 (+16). USC shot a final round score of 289 to out-distance rival UCLA. The Bruins finished as runner-up with a final score of 1,174 (+22). Azahara Munoz of Arizona State won the individual title with a 72-hole score of 287 (-1). Munoz defeated Tiffany Joh of UCLA in a playoff for medalist honors.

The 12th-place finish is the second-best for the Crimson Tide in school history at an NCAA Championship. Alabama has improved its finish every season at the NCAA Championship under Potter. Alabama's best finish ever came in 1986 when the Crimson Tide placed ninth overall.

In her first NCAA Championship for the Crimson Tide, junior Kathleen Ekey completed the four rounds with a final score of 296 (+8) to finish in a tie for 20th place. The Wadsworth, Ohio, native carded a final round even par score of 72, her best round of the tournament.

The Swedish duo of freshman Camilla Lennarth and sophomore Helena Blomberg tied for 54th place with a 72-hole score of 304 (+16). Lennarth had a final round score of 75 (+3) while Blomberg turned in a score of 76 (+4).

Freshman Courtney Harter, also playing in her first NCAA Championship, carded a final score of 311 (+23) to finish in 85th place. The newcomer recorded a final round score of 79 (+7).

In her final appearance for Alabama, senior Sarah Sturm finished with a final score of 324 (+36) to finish in a tie for 118th. Sturm fired a final round score of 81 (+9).