March 18, 2007
The Commodores combined to shoot a 2-under-par today to secure a second place at the LSU/Cleveland Golf Classis in Baton Rouge, La. The ‘Dores finished the weekend six strokes behind the country’s No. 1 team and tournament winner Duke.
“We beat 19 very good teams this weekend,” Coach Martha Richards said. “We beat Auburn who is ranked ahead of us, and we beat Tennessee, which always makes headlines in any sport.”
Vanderbilt matched Duke’s two-under-par performance on the day and outshot No. 6 Auburn by four strokes to take second overall in the tournament. Fifteen of the 21 teams in the tournament are ranked in the Top 50, including Vanderbilt, which is ranked No. 7.
“Our performance this week truly shows the depth of this team,” Richards said. “We have very good players, and when we hit with all cylinders, we truly can win on any given week.”
Liebelei Lawrence and Brooke Goodwin each had strong rounds today, carding 4-under and 3-under respectively. Lawrence notched five birdies and one bogie through seven holes then shot even par the remainder of the day while Goodwin, birdied the fourth, fifth, 10th and 13th holes and bogeyed the ninth. Goodwin, the team’s only freshman, finished in fifth place and one stroke ahead of teammate Jacqui Concolino, who tied for sixth place. Lawrence finished tied for 19th, Kristen Svicarovich tied for 35th, and Chris Brady tied for 43rd.
“Brooke was just so steady all week, and today she made some very good up and downs and some putts for birdies,” Richards said. “Today is her first collegiate round in the 60s, and her first Top 10 finish, which is actually a Top 5 finish. She didn’t let anything get to her.”
Lawrence improved her game with each round, starting the week with a first-round 8-over-par, 3-over-par in round two, and a commanding 4-under-par today.
“She had a rough start this week, but she ended today in the 60s,” Richards said. “Liebelei probably did as good of a job as I’ve ever seen as a coach of playing in the present and playing one shot at a time. She did a great job.”
The Commodores will travel in two weeks to Tempe, Ariz., to the Ping/ASU Invitational March 30-April 1. Although this will be Vanderbilt’s first appearance in this particular tournament, two of the Commodores have history at Karsten Golf Course. Richards won the Lady Sun Devil Tournament there in 1993 as fifth-year senior at Stanford, and Lawrence played the course while competing for Saint Stephens Episcopal (Florida) High School.
