The Georgia Lady Bulldogs opened their 2016 Spring schedule with a victory in the Lady Puerto Rico Classic, finishing with a 3-over 867 total to score a 3-stroke victory over Arkansas.
After opening with a 5-under 283 to tie for the first round lead, Georgia fell seven shots back after a second round 294, but rallied with a 290 total the final day.
Junior Harang Lee was low for the Bulldogs, tying for third at 213 with scores of 69-75-69. Freshman Bailey Tardy of Peachtree Corners shot 68-72-75 and placed fifth at 215, with senior Manuela Carbajo Re 12th at 220 and Roswell freshman Rinko Mitsunaga T15 at 222.
Tardy was recently named to the U.S team for the 2016 Curtis Cup, which will be played June 10-12 outside Dublin, Ireland. Five of the eight players selected are 17 years old, with Tardy one of just three college players, two of whom are freshmen. All eight are among the top 30 players in the world amateur rankings, with Tardy (No. 7) one of four in the top 10.
The Augusta Lady Jaguars also competed in the Puerto Rico event and tied for seventh at 891 led by Roswell junior Jessica Haigwood, who tied for 13th at 221. Eunice Yi, a junior from Evans, shot three straight 74s and tied for 15th at 222.
Augusta was ninth in its season opener in Orlando, 12 shots behind tournament winner Houston with an 897 total. Junior Josefine Nyqvist, who tied for 18th in Puerto Rico, tied for 11th in Orlando at 221, highlighted by a second round 68. Yi and Haigwood both tied for 33rd at 226.
Georgia hosted a one-day individual tournament at the UGA course earlier in February, with Mitsunage tying for first place with scores of 71-76—147. Tardy tied for third at 151, with fellow freshman Jillian Hollis sixth at 153. Lee had the low score of the afternoon round with a 75.
Mercer opened its Spring schedule with a victory in the Tampa Bay area, with the Lady Bears’ Payton Schanen capturing medalist honors. Schanen, a freshman from Alpharetta, finished first individually by eight shots with scores of 70-71-71 for a 4-under 212 total.
The Bears won the team title by nine shots with an 894 total, with a 293 score in the second round low for the tournament. Also tying for third for Mercer was freshman Jaelyn Tindal, along with Moultrie junior Marin Hanna, who competed as an individual. Freshman Mary Juniga tied for 16th at 228, with Taylorsville sophomore Hannah Mae Deems T24 at 230.
Mercer tied for sixth at Kiawah Island in a field of 41 teams with an 898 total. Tindal tied for 15th at 221, with Schanen T21 at 223.