Tulane rallied from a nine-stroke deficit to defend its Conference USA Women’s Golf Championship at the Par-72, 6,178-yard Germantown Country Club. The Green Wave shot its lowest score of the three-round event on Wednesday carding a 294 to finish with an 898, while TCU, who held the second-round lead, shot a 308 to finish five strokes back in second with a 903.

The Green Wave duo of Alison Walshe and Liliana Alvarez were a key part in Tulane making the largest comeback in championship history. Walshe shot her second-consecutive round under par to win medalist honors with a championship-record 214 (73-70-71), while Alvarez, the defending individual champion, shot the low-round of the tournament with a 69 to finish in a tie for third at 224 (74-81-69).

“We had a great day,” Tulane head coach Sue Bower said. “This is what competition is all about. I challenged our girls and to have two of them shoot under par in the final round is outstanding.”

Walshe, who was voted the C-USA Women’s Golfer of the Year by the league coaches, turned in two of the four under-par rounds at the tournament to win the individual title by nine strokes. The Horned Frogs finished runner-up to the Green Wave for the second straight season. TCU Sophomore Stacey Bieber held on to second place in the individual race finishing at 223 (71-74-78), while teammate D’Rae Ward rounded out the top five with a 225 (75-74-76). USF freshman Christina Jones shared third place with Alvarez at 224 (73-77-74).

Walshe, Bieber, Alavarez, Jones and Ward were each named to the All-Tournament team for placing in the top five. For Alvarez (2004) and Ward (2003), it was the second time to earn that distinction. Jones also earned C-USA Women’s Golfer Freshman of the Year honors and Bower collected her third Coach of the Year honor.

Jones helped the Bulls stand pat in third place in the team standings at 909 (298-309-302). East Carolina tallied its best round of the tournament firing a 302 to finish in fourth at 932 (298-309-302), while Louisville placed fifth with a 945 (319-308-318).

Rounding out the 6-10 spots in the team standings were Southern Mississippi (309-325-321 = 955), Memphis (311,321, 329 = 961), UAB (321-331-320 = 972), Cincinnati (332-326-322 = 980) and Saint Louis (356-378-362 = 1,098).

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
All-Tournament Team (Top 5 Finishers)
Alison Walshe, Tulane
Stacey Bieber, TCU
Liliana Alvarez, Tulane
Christina Jones, USF
D’Rae Ward, TCU

All-Conference USA First Team
Camille Blackerby, TCU
Brooke Mangan, UAB
Adrienne Millican, East Carolina
Alison Walshe, Tulane
Adrienne White, Louisville

All-Conference USA Second Team
Liliana Alvarez, Tulane
Meghan Little, Louisville
Catherine Matranga, TCU
Danielle Ronderos, USF
D’Rae Ward, TCU

All-Conference USA Third Team
Janey Deimling, UAB
Heidi Hellieson, East Carolina
Stacey Tate, Memphis
Lindsay Hulwick, Tulane
Mary Ellen Jacobs, Tulane

All-Freshman Team
Jenny Calkins, Louisville
Elisa Gomez, TCU
Christina Jones, USF
Emilie Lind, East Carolina
Hillery Wilson, Cincinnati

Player of the Year
Alison Walshe, Tulane

Freshman of the Year
Christina Jones, USF

Coach of the Year
Sue Bower, Tulane

Team Standings

         1   Tulane                   298  306  294    898     
         2   TCU                      294  301  308    903     
         3   USF                      298  309  302    909     
         4   East Carolina            313  311  308    932     
         5   Louisville               319  308  318    945     
         6   Southern Mississippi     309  325  321    955     
         7   Memphis                  311  321  329    961     
         8   UAB                      321  331  320    972      
         9   Cincinnati               332  326  322    980     
        10   Saint Louis              358  378  362   1098     


Top 20 Players 
     1    Alison Walshe          Tulane        73   70   71   214
      2    Stacey Bieber          TCU           71   74   78   223
      3    Liliana Alvarez        Tulane        74   81   69   224
           Christina Jones        USF           73   77   74   224
      5    Drae Ward              TCU           75   74   76   225
      6    Daniella Ronderos      USF           77   77   73   227
      7    Mary Ellen Jacobs      Tulane        74   77   77   228
      8    Adrienne White         Louisville    72   78   79   229
           Catherine Matranga     TCU           79   75   75   229
     10    Hillery Wilson         Cincinnati    76   79   75   230
     11    Heidi Helliesen        E Carolina    76   78   77   231
           Fernanda Rivera        USF           70   80   81   231
     13    Adrienne Millican      E Carolina    79   76   77   232
           Meghan Little          Louisville    81   73   78   232
           Camille Blackerby      TCU           75   78   79   232
           Lindsay Hulwick        Tulane        77   78   77   232
     17    Kylene Pulley          USF           78   77   78   233
           Amanda Smith           USF           78   78   77   233
           Elin Emanuelsson       TCU           73   81   79   233
     20    Emelie Lind            E Carolina    79   79   76   234


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