Nov. 4, 2006
Liebelei Lawrence, Jacqui Concolino and Julie Bartholomew each recorded victories to send fourth-seeded Vanderbilt past top-seed Georgia, 3-2 in third round action at the Collegiate Match Play Championships in Orlando, Fla.
The Commodores advance to the championship round and will face second-seed Duke, who squeaked past No. 11 seed Michigan State in a playoff. The final round begins at 7 a.m. CT at the Eagle Creek Golf Club.
Duke has won the fourth-year event twice before, in 2003 and 2004.
Lawrence won six holes in edging Georgia’s Whitney Wade 4 and 3. Concolino outlasted Mallory Hetzel 2 up, hitting a 5-iron within three feet of the cup on the final hole to earn the victory. Bartholomew was strong throughout her 3 and 2 win over Alina Lee. Playing in only her second event of the fall season, Bartholomew won five holes and recorded par on multiple holes in registering her first win of the tournament.
“Liebelei was very solid and only lost 1 or 2 holes,” Vanderbilt head coach Martha Richards said. “She hit the ball well and gave herself several opportunities.
“Jacqui battled back-and-forth, but was very steady in very windy conditions.
“Julie’s win was huge for us. She made a lot of pars, which in match play earns you a lot of holes.”
Vanderbilt’s Chris Brady lost her match with Taylor Leon 2 up while teammate Kristen Svicarovich dropped her match with Georgia’s Garrett Phillips 2 and 1.
The fifth-ranked Commodores have won their last two tournaments, both in medal-play competition.
AGATE
Collegiate Match Play Championships
Third Round
Nov. 4, 2006
(4) Vanderbilt 3, (1) Georgia 2
Taylor Leon, Georgia def. Chris Brady, Vanderbilt 2 up
Liebelei Lawrence, Vanderbilt def. Whitney Wade, Georgia 4 and 3
Jacqui Concolino, Vanderbilt def. Mallory Hetzel, Georgia 2 up
Garrett Phillips, Georgia def. Kristen Svicarovich, 2 and 1
Julie Bartholomew, Vanderbilt def. Alina Lee, Georgia, 3 and 2
