Jacksonville, Fla. ? Sophomore Danielle Jackson (Seminole, Fla.) and junior Ashley Kozlowski (Windsor, Conn.) tied for second individually to lead the Stetson women's golf team to a third-place finish in its 2008 spring season opener at the Jacksonville Invitational Monday-Tuesday at Windsor Park Golf Course. Sophomore Lauren Darnell (Gainesville, Ga.) tied for sixth.
Jackson opened with a seven over-par 79 on Monday but improved her play this afternoon to shoot 76, finishing the 36-hole event with a 155 total score (+11). Kozlowski, who competed as an independent and not part of the Hatter team quintet, shot consistent rounds of 77-78 to join Jackson, Melissa Magdor (Daytona Beach C.C.) and Chelsea Harris (Austin Peay) in a four-way tie for second place.
Individual medalist Lorie Warren of team champions Belmont University blistered the Windsor Park layout both days. She led wire-to-wire, following up an opening even par 72 with a three under-par 69 to win by 14 strokes.
Darnell was in second place overall after a +2 round of 74 on Monday but found the going tough in the final round, carding an 83 to tie for sixth at 13 over par. Senior Meagan Carlucci (Southlake, Texas) tied for 16th place at +18 (79-83) while junior Christine Fraser (Kingston, Ont.) and freshman Alex Banham (Peterborough, England) finished in a tie for 25th place at +26. Fraser bounced back from an opening 88 with a final-round 82 while Banham tallied consecutive 85s.
Belmont won the team title at 41 over par, eight shots better than runner-up Daytona Beach Community College. Stetson took third at +65, followed by host school Jacksonville (+69) and Austin Peay (+70).
The Hatters will compete next at the Pinehurst (N.C.) Challenge, a three-day event held March 9-11 on the #8 course at the world-famous Pinehurst Resort. Pinehurst's courses have hosted two U.S. Opens (on #2) and will host a third in 2014 in addition to the 2008 U.S. Men's Amateur Championship (#2 and #4).
