Nov. 3, 2009

AUSTIN, Texas - The No. 43 Texas Tech women's golf team dug themselves out of an early hole Tuesday, created by their first two rounds of 292 and 296, which had put them in 18th position out of 21 teams. The Lady Raiders proved their resiliance in their third round as they jumped 10 spots to finish in eighth place in Austin, at the 2009 Challenge at Onion Creek, hosted by Texas State.

The Lady Raiders tied the record for lowest 18-hole round by any previous Tech team with a 1-over par, 281. The previous record had been set last year at the 2008 Heather Farr Memorial in Erie, Col.

Tech's 2-over team score of 281 was the second-best round by any team in the final round. The Lady Raiders finished ahead of three of Big 12 foes in the tournament: Nebraska (11th), Baylor (t-13th) and Missouri (20th).

The 54-hole total of 869 (+29), tied for the second-best three-round total in Tech's history along with the Lady Raiders showing at the 2008 UNLV Spring Invitational.

No. 16 Texas A&M took first place as they overcame an eight-shot deficit to the University of San Francisco Tuesday. The Aggies finished the tournament with a three-day total of 1-under, 839. USF finished just three shots back and took runner-up honors with a 54-hole total of 842.

Leading the Lady Raiders to the finish was freshman Kimberly Kaufman who jumped 41 spots in the final round, sinking six birdie putts and only making one bogey. The performance landed her in a tie for sixth, her best of the season. Kaufman birdied three of her last four holes to fire a 5-under 65.

Behind Kaufman was fellow freshman Gabriella Dominguez who finished the event with rounds of 70-75-73, totaling 218 and landing her in a tie for 36th. Senior Rosalyn Kim jumped 18 spots Tuesday as she fired rounds of 73-74-72, good for a 219 total and a tie for 42nd.

Freshman Beverly Mendoza finished in a tie for 52nd climbing the leaderboard 22 spots with a three-day total of 221. Junior Alex Gibson fired a a tournament total of 227.

Kaufman's performance was not only her personal-best but also set the record for the lowest round in Tech history. The 5-under 65 edged out Ulrika Van Niekerk's 66, which she accomplished twice in her decorated career at Tech.

Tech's head coach JoJo Robertson was proud of the team's ability to play hard and bring themselves back in the tournament.

"Today's round was a great way to finish the fall season," as she reflected on the success the Lady Raiders have had in her short time at Tech. "Today was a nice reminder of what we are capable of. I'm happy for Kim and her record-setting round."

Texas A&M's Julia Boland fired rounds of 67-70-69, capturing the medalist honors at 4-under with a total of 206. Runner-up to Boland was fellow Aggie and 2009's Big 12 Championship medalist Ashley Freeman, who came in just one shot behind Boland with a 3-under total of 207.

The tournament was the fourth and final outing for the Lady Raiders this fall. Tech's women golf team looks forward to the winter offseason as they will prepare for a rigorous 2010 spring schedule.

The Lady Raiders will be back in action as they travel to San Juan, Puerto Rico Feb. 7-9 to compete in the 2010 Lady Puerto Rico Classic.