Kiawah Island, SC – Much cooler temperatures and much breezier conditions at the Kiawah Island Classic had a chilling effect on all 210 players in a tournament billed annually as the largest collegiate event in the nation.
 
Almost across the board, scores jumped eight to 10 shots with the change in the weather, resulting in very little opportunity to move up the leaderboard in the final round.
 
"It was tough out there, I don't think it ever got above 50 degrees and the wind was blowing 15 to 20 miles per hour all day," Hatters' coach Danielle Shelburne said. "Over the last few holes it started raining, and that was really miserable, especially after having had two perfect days to play."
 
For Stetson, a final round 307, 11 shots higher that the Hatters' opening round 296 on the same course, left them in fifth place overall. It is the second straight year Stetson has finished fifth in this event.
 
The goal for most of the top teams on Tuesday was not to catch Dallas Baptist, which had built an insurmountable lead and tied for the low round of the day in the final round. The goal was to finish second. Eight teams went into the final round within striking distance of that spot. Stetson was one of just four, besides DBU, to finish the tournament with a team score less than 900.
 
Host College of Charleston, which has won this event multiple times, rallied with a final round score of 299 to finish second, 27 shots behind Dallas Baptist. East Tennessee State (895), Northern Illinois (896) and Stetson (898) rounded out the top five.
 
Even tournament individual champion Faith DeLaGarza of DBU was not immune to the weather. She posted a final round 73 to hold off Warda Amira Rawof from ETSU by two shots for medalist honors.
 
Stetson senior Hanna Kiefer, who went into the final round with a chance to make a run up the leaderboard, cruised through her first six holes of the day with six pars. That all changed with a triple bogey on number seven and a double on eight. She finished the front side with her only birdie of the round. Three bogeys on the back completed her round of 79 and left her tied for 17^th in the final standings.
 
Junior Bianca Sol Cruz was also unable to fight through the weather. She followed her career-best second round 69 with a 77 on Tuesday to finish tied for 36^th.
 
Sophomore Wendy Hsiao bounced back from her second round 80 with a 76 on Tuesday to move up to 41^st in the final standings.
 
Seniors Meghan McLean and Sarah May finished the event with rounds of 82 and 75, respectively. McLean tied for 68^th while May finished tied for 92^nd.
 
The Hatters will get right back to work next Monday and Tuesday at the UNF Collegiate. That event is scheduled to be played at Jacksonville Country Club, another course the Hatters are familiar with.
 
That will be the final tune-up for the Hatters before the ASUN Championship, which will mean a six-week layoff for Stetson before they travel to Kinderlou Forest Golf Club in Valdosta. That event is scheduled to start April 18.
 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.