NINETY SIX, S.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) – Charleston Southern wrapped up the 2014 Big South Conference Women's Golf Championship presented by Musco Sports Lighting on Tuesday afternoon finishing sixth overall at the tournament hosted at The Patriot Golf Club at Grand Harbor in Ninety Six, S.C.
CSU freshman Bella Johnson led Charleston Southern on the tournament with a final score of 231 overall to finish tied for 13th among the tournament field for the Bucs. Shelby Thompson improved by eight spots over the final round to finish tied for 22nd overall on the tournament with a score of 235, while Vanessa Jay and Torey Johnson carded matching overall scored of 238 to finish tied at 28th. Jordin Hollinshead wrapped up the quintet on the course for head coach Matt Cram-Smith, finishing the three-day event 43rd overall in the field.
Campbell posted the lowest team aggregate score of the day with a 297 to complete its record-breaking wire-to-wire victory in claiming the 2014 Big South Women's Golf Championship. The Camels' Louise Latorre birdied her final two holes to claim Medalist honors with a Championship-record 3-under 213.
Campbell's Championship-record 864 (278-289-297) eclipsed the previous mark of 880 set last year by Coastal Carolina. The Camels are also the first team in Big South Women's Golf Championship history to have three players finish under-par. Following Latorre on the leaderboard were teammates Tahnia Ravnjak (2-under 214) and Kaylin Yost (1-under 215). As a team, the Camels finished 30 shots ahead of runner-up Coastal Carolina -- the fourth-largest margin of victory in League history. Campbell head coach John Crooks is now the first to win four Big South titles, including his second in three years.
Tuesday's wet course conditions impacted all scores, as no player finished with an under-par round. The teams also dealt with a 55-minute rain delay after making the turn.
Latorre (68-73-72) was tied with Yost and Ravnjak at 1-under with two holes remaining. Latorre entered the clubhouse with a two-shot lead following her back-to-back birdies on No. 17 and 18, and Ravnjak birdied the par 3 No. 17 hole to move within one. She settled for par on the final hole to earn individual runner-up honors. Latorre is the first Camel to win Big South Medalist honors since Jennifer Layman in 1994, which was Campbell's last year in the Big South before re-joining in 2012.
Following Campbell and Coastal Carolina in the team standings was High Point in third-place at 921. Gardner-Webb finished fourth with a 934, while Winthrop was fifth at 936. Host Charleston Southern placed sixth with a 939, followed by Radford (944), Longwood (947) and Presbyterian College (955).
Latorre, Ravnjak and Yost, and Coastal Carolina trio Frida Castillo, Bailey Cocca and Lena Schaeffner all earned a spot on the All-Championship Team for finishing in the top five. Latorre also earned a spot on the All-Conference Team with her victory.
