May 24, 2013
LINCOLN, Neb. – The Embry-Riddle women's golf team turned in a solid performance on in the final round of the 2013 NAIA Women's Golf National Championship, matching the team's first round score of 301 to take third place in the event.
Connie Pitenis,
Sophie Olley,
Pia Jenko,
Bea Serra and
Heather Wiquist combined for the lowest round of the four-day tournament on the way to an overall score of 1,244 (301-334-308-301).
"Words cannot capture the pride and thanks Coach Ken [Staton] and I have for the team," ERAU Head Coach
Maria Lopez said on Friday. "After some tough breaks they kept battling and believing in what our program is about. Take a look at the individual score cards; they tell an amazing story of determination. What they gave the last few days, we could not ask for more."
The 2013 result marked the Eagles' second straight third-place finish and the seventh consecutive time that they finished fourth or better on the national stage. Oklahoma City (310-305-305-304=1224) captured the national title, while 2012 National Champion British Columbia (312-308-310-306=1236) took second. ERAU finished ahead of conference foes SCAD Savannah (9th, 1268), who won The Sun Conference title, Northwood (14th, 1278) and South Carolina Beaufort (15th, 1280).
Three Eagles finished at two-over-par on the 5,978-yard, Par-72 Wilderness Ridge course as Pitenis, Olley and Jenko each carded at 74 of the final day of play. Pitenis had an eagle on the 14th and birdied the next two holes to cap off her final season wearing the Blue and Gold with a 307 (75-83-75-74) to finish tied for seventh.
Olley was one of the three players tied with Pitenis as her birdie on eight and eagle on three helped the sophomore to a tournament final of 307 (76-80-77-74).
Jenko (T33) and Serra (T59) also closed out their Embry-Riddle careers on Friday with Jenko posting a four-day score of 316 (80-84-78-74) and Serra turning in a 326 (81-87-78-80). Wiquist, who recorded the Eagles' lowest score of 70 of the tournament on the first day, finished tied at 47th with a 320 (70-87-84-79).
Pitenis and Olley were both named to the All-Tournament team following their top-15 finish. The All-Tournament award was the second of Pitenis' career as she took home the honor in 2012.
"Our seniors leave their legacy of third or better at all of the national tournaments they've been a part of," Lopez concluded. "They helped us maintain the program tradition of 12 straight national tournament appearances, finishing sixth or better since 2004. Thank you to all our Embry-Riddle family for the opportunity and support."
