FRANKLIN, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee State and South Carolina claimed the men’s and women’s titles, respectively, at the 2009 Mason Rudolph Championships at the Vanderbilt Legends Club.
The 2009 edition of the Mason Rudolph was shortened to 36 holes after torrential rains flooded the Franklin, Tenn., area on Saturday. Eighteen holes were played on Sunday.
The Blue Raiders rallied with a final round total of 273 and defeated South Carolina in a sudden-death playoff to capture the team championship for the men on the par-71, 7,100-yard South Course. MTSU and South Carolina each finished with an 11-under par, 556, one stroke better than third place Arkansas State, who carded a 557 (272-285). The host Commodores finished in sixth place with a six-under par, 563 (280-283).
Individually, Jonathan Randolph of Ole Miss claimed medalist honors with an 11-under par, 131 (64-67), five strokes better than Vanderbilt’s Ryan Haselden, who finished as the runner-up with a score of six-under par, 136 (67-69).
For the Commodore men, Hudson Johnson tied for seventh with a four-under par, 138 (67-71), Chris Rockwell carded a 143 (73-70, T-30), Ben Klaus fired a 146 (73-73), and Will Snipes ended the tournament with a 147 (73-74). Individually, Craig Tallent and Trey DelGreco finished in a tie for 21st with a 142, while Charlie Grace had a score of 145 (71-74, T-40), and Ryan Thornton finished with a 146 (67-79, T-46).
For the women, USC edged out intracity rival UCLA with a 16-under par, 560 (278-282), two strokes better than the Bruins, who ended the tournament with a 562 (284-278). The host Commodores finished the tournament in 11th place with a score of 578 (285-293).
USC’s Jennifer Song, the 2009 U.S. Amateur and U.S. Amateur Public Links champion, won individual honors, posting a 12-under par, 132 (66-66), to edge out three golfers, 2008 Mason Rudolph champion Sydnee Michaels, Auburn’s Cydney Clanton, and Vanderbilt’s Marina Alex, who all ended the tournament at nine-under par, 135.
Alex shot a five-under, 67 on Sunday, and birdied two out of her last three holes to get to 135. Alex fired a 68 on Friday.
Other totals for Vanderbilt included Brooke Goodwin with a 146 (72-74, T-49), Andrea Messer with a 150 (76-74, T-70), and Megan Grehan and Lauren Stratton each finished with scores of 151, which tied for 76th. Individually, Annal Leigh Keith finished in a tie for 67th with a 149 (73-76), and Gaby Balit ended the tournament with a 175 (85-90, 90).
VUCommodores.com will have more from the 2009 Mason Rudolph Championships later, including pictures and video.
