AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Augusta Jaguar’s women’s golf team won their home event for the first time at the ninth-annual 3M Augusta Invitational, besting the 16-team field at three-under par to win by 10 strokes at Forest Hills Golf Club on Saturday (March 12th, 2016). Teams played 36 holes in a shotgun format for the final two rounds and the Jags shot eight under in round three.
No. 42 nationally-ranked Augusta shaved 15 strokes from round one to round two with a 283 (-5) to take the lead by one stroke over No. 33 Furman heading into the final 18 holes. The Jags finished three shots under par with a round-three 280 (-8).
The Jags finished runner up for five consecutive years from the inaugural year in 2006 to 2012. With six holes remaining, Augusta had a seven-stroke lead and held on for the win to deny Coastal Carolina from defending their 2015 title. Augusta first year Head Coach Caroline Hegg grabs her first win in Augusta.
Coastal Carolina took second place, No. 33 Furman third, East Tennessee State third, and No. 35 East Carolina rounded out the top five.
Frida Gustafsson Spang from East Carolina won the event five-under par with eight birdies in round three.
The Jags were made up of juniors Jessica Haigwood, Josefine Nyqvist, Eunice Yi, Teresa Caballer-Hernani, and freshman Cecilia Diez-Moliner. Sophomores Sonya Knebel and Lexi Bollant competed as individuals.
Caballer-Hernani carded her low round of the season with a 68 (-4) in round three to finish in sixth place and three shots under par. Haigwood ended up tied for seventh one-under par after leading the event at the conclusion of the first round.
Yi placed tied for 10th two-over par after shooting 71 (-1) in her final round and Nyqvist ended up tied for 15th overall with a 70 (-2). Diez-Moliner concluded the Augusta starting five in a tie for 50 with a 71 (-1) in round three, while Knebel took 56th and Bollant 66th as individuals.
Augusta competes in the Henssler Financial Intercollegiate, hosted by Kennesaw State, March 28-29 at Pine Tree Country Club in Kennesaw, Ga.