Oct. 24, 2004
Furman's Lady Paladin golf team fired a final-round 292 to hold off fourth-ranked Georgia by one stroke in the 34th annual Lady Paladin Invitational, Sunday at the Furman Golf Course. In addition, sophomore Monique Gesualdi won her first collegiate individual title with a three-round 213.
The 21st-ranked Lady Paladins entered the final round of their home tournament tied with fourth-ranked UGA, 12 ahead of TCU, and 15 in front of second-ranked Auburn. In addition, Gesualdi held a two stroke lead over TCU's Catherine Matranga and UGA's Kelly Froelich in the individual standings.
The Lady Paladins put together a four-over team effort on Sunday, while the Bulldogs of Georgia fired a five-over 293. Jenny Suh paced Furman on the day with a one-under 71, and finished tied for second overall, while Theresa Paik carded an even-par 72 to tie for 49th, Gesualdi shot 74, and junior Haley Gildea contributed a 75 and finished tied for 58th. Junior Connor Atkinson was the non-counter on the day at 78, but finished in a tie for 27th with a 223, three-round tally.
The Bulldogs were paced by Jackie Beers' 71, while Kelly Froelich carded a 74 to finish tied with Suh for second. Defending Lady Paladin champion Natalia Nichols and Lisa Tyler each fired 74 to tie for 14th, while Whitney Wade was the non-counter on the day with a 76.
The Auburn Tigers recorded the day's low round with a 291, which catapulted them into third, with an 885 tally, three strokes ahead of TCU, but 14 off Furman's lead pace and 13 behind UGA. UNC Wilmington finished fifth at 892, with Northwestern in sixth at 898, and No. 20 Michigan State, No. 13 Florida, and Florida State tied for seventh at 899.
"The gratification factor in winning any tournament, while always high, depends somewhat on who you beat," said coach Mic Potter after the scores were posted. "Beating Georgia, Auburn, TCU, Florida, and some of the other top teams in this field made this an extremely gratifying win."
The Lady Paladins last won their home tournament in 2002, but had not swept team and inidivdual honors since 1992. The last Lady Paladin to earn medalist honors was Caroline Peek, who tied Kim O'Connor of Oklahoma in 1994 with a 215 three-day tally.
In winning her first collegiate title, Gesualdi, a product of Nease High School in St. Augustine, Fla., recorded rounds of 69-70-74 at the 5,984-yard, par 72 Furman Golf Course. Her three-under total is the best of her career, but was not surprising to Potter.
"Mo has won big tournaments before on the AJGA level," said Potter. "She has been playing better than anyone on the team and putting up great scores in qualifying, so I am not surprised that she played so well. I think the big difference between last year and this year is that she has learned to control her competitive desires and doesn't let mistake bother her like they have in the past."
Gesualdi agreed, stating, "I tried to just play the same game today that I have played the last two days and not get down on myself. My mental game was much better this week than in the past. I just didn't let mistakes get me down."
Gesualdi had a chance to test her mettle on the very first hole Sunday. Froelich of Georgia, who entered the round just two strokes off Gesualdi's lead, parred the first hole while Gesualdi recorded her first bogey of the day.
"I was very aware of the team and individual situation when I bogeyed that first hole and Kelly made a par," said Gesualdi. "But after that first hole I went par, birdie, birdie. I gave myself tough up and downs all day and didn't hit as many greens as I have the last few days, but I didn't let myself get too frustrated.
The victory gives Furman great momentum entering the Landfall Tradition, Oct. 29-31 in Wilmington, N.C. The Lady Paladins will complete the fall portion of their schedule Nov. 14-16, at the National Golf Coach's Association Hooter's Match Play in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.
