The No. 2 Tarleton TexAnns finished in fourth place at the 2011 NCAA Division II Women’s Golf Championships Saturday in Allendale, Mich. to replicate the program’s best finish ever.
Tarleton shot a 305 on Saturday to pull within 10 strokes of third place Florida Southern (1,196) as the TexAnns completed the four-round championship with a 1,206 (306-306-289-305). Tarleton also finished fourth in 2010.
The TexAnns had the second lowest round of the tournament on Friday when shooting a 289, just six strokes off the lowest round of the event which was posted by national champion Nova Southeastern on the first day (283). NSU won its third straight national title on Saturday with a 1,157. Rollins finished second with a 1,185.
The Sharks Taylor Collins won the individual championship with a 10-under-par performance. She had rounds of 68, 69, 66 and 75.
The TexAnns finished 8 strokes ahead of St. Edward’s (1,234) while defeating host Grand Valley State (1,237) by 31 strokes. California, Pa. (1,248), Western New Mexico (1,249), Ashland (1,262), Augustana (1,262), Western Washington (1,263) and Concordia-St. Paul (1286) completed the field of competition.
Sharon Lau led the TexAnns with a 297 (79-76-72-70) as she finished ninth among individuals. Jacqueline Lau tied at No. 15 with a 301 (71-76-72-82) while Carla Cooper was No. 19 with a 302 (77-77-71-77). Katy Ward tied at No. 31 with a 311 (79-80-76-76) and Melanie Tham tied at No. 49 with a 320 (81-77-74-88).
The TexAnns won eight tournaments this season while finishing second, third, fourth and fifth once each. Tarleton has won 34 of 52 tournaments since the 2006-07 season, and the TexAnns have finished in the top five in all but two of those events.
Competing as an individual, Northeastern State’s Whitney McAteer's ended the 72-hole event with a total of 316 (80-76-77-83), which placed her in a tie for 38th overall.