April 22, 2008

Photo Gallery 

SoCon Championship Final Results

Hollywood, S.C. -- Furman's Stefanie Kenoyer fired a final round 70 to become just the second freshman ever to capture Southern Conference individual medalist honors as the Paladins pulled away late to claim their 12th SoCon title on Tuesday afternoon at the par-72 Links At Stono Ferry in Hollywood, S.C.

The win gavehead coach Jen Hanna's Paladins the SoCon's automatic bid and punched Furman's ticket to its 16th straight NCAA Regional. The NCAA's three 21-team regionals will take place May 8-10, with the top eight teams and top three remaining individuals advancing to the NCAA Championship May 20-23, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Pairings for the regionals will be announced on April 28.

Kenoyer (70-78-70=218) birdied five holes in the final round, including three of the final five, to pull away for a four-stroke victory over runner-up Danielle Mills (71-75-76=222) of Elon. Steffi Kirchmayr of Charleston and Christine Wolf of Chattanooga tied for third at eight-over while UNCG's Erica Creed and Furman's Jaclyn Hilea (73-71-81=225) finished in a tie for fifth. Junior Blair Lamb (77-75-76=228), the 2007 SoCon individual medalist, and sophomore Corrine Carr (74-80-76=230) also recorded top 10 finishes for the Paladins at seventh and 10th place, respectively. Carr's top 10 finish was her second straight at the SoCon championship.

Kenoyer, a Lighthouse Point, Fla., native, overcame a four-stroke deficit entering the final round to claim her first collegiate victory and third top 10 finish of the season. She joined Western Carolina's Brandy Andersen (2003) as the only freshmen ever to win the SoCon championship.

Furman (294-304-303=901) finished eight strokes ahead of second place UNC Greensboro (297-307-305=909) and 25 strokes in front of third place Elon to capture its 12th league crown in 15 years.

The victory and automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals continues Furman's streak of never having missed the Division I women's golf postseason since the regional format began in 1993. If the Paladins advance to the NCAA Championship, it will be the program's 16th appearance in the finals since 1983.

1 Furman 294 304 303 901 1 Stefanie Kenoyer 70 78 70 218 T5 Jaclyn Hilea 73 71 81 225 7 Blair Lamb 77 75 76 228 T10 Corrine Carr 74 80 76 230 T26 Ashley Baker 78 81 84 243