No. 6 Alabama, No. 8 Arkansas at the Lady Puerto Rico Classic
RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico -- Alabama senior Stephanie Meadow fired her second consecutive 4-under-par 68 on Tuesday to earn co-medalist honors at the 2014 Lady Puerto Rico Classic on the par-72, 6,191-yard River Course at the Wyndham Rio Resort and Mar Country Club.
It was the ninth career medalist honor for the senior Meadow, who now has three times more wins than any player in school history. She played the final two rounds in 8-under par and the final 51 holes of the 54-hole event in 9-under.
"The most encouraging thing I saw from Stephanie [Meadow] this weekend was after she made double bogey on two of her first three holes, she still came back and shot five under for the tournament - that is pretty impressive," head coach Mic Potter said. "She understands that she has to stay committed no matter what. She stays with the process all the way through and good things happen when you do that."
Alabama finished tied for sixth as a team at 29-over-par 893 after a 7-over 295 in the final round, which matched the lowest round of the day. Arkansas earned the team title at 3-over 867 with GRU Augusta (+17, 881) in second, followed by Northwestern (+22, 886), Auburn (+27, 891) and Georgia (+28, 892).
Strong gusty winds forced scores higher, but No. 8 Arkansas posted a 283, the second-best round of the day, to finish with 867 and a 14-stroke lead to take the tournament title. Sophomores Gabriela Lopez and Regina Plasencia both carded one-over 73s in the final round.
Lopez was Arkansasâ top finisher in third place. She shot 73-68-73=214 over the three-day event. Lopez opened play Tuesday with a birdie on her first hole but counted a double and a bogey on seven and eight turning at plus-two.
She put together three consecutive pars followed by a birdie on the 13th moving to one-over. She gave that stroke back on the 17th hole but finished strong with a birdie on 18.
Seniors Emily Tubert and Emma Lavy tied for fourth overall shooting 216. Tubert, a Burbank, Calif., native, posted rounds of 68-73-75 and opened the final round with nine consecutive par holes on the River Course.
