Women’s golf takes third in Jackrabbit Invitational

The Arkansas State women’s golf team picked up its fourth top-three finish of the season Tuesday, recording a combined 937 at the Jackrabbit Invitational to finish third among 13 teams.

Following the conclusion of the second round that was suspended yesterday due to darkness, the Red Wolves shot a final-round 305 for its lowest score of the spring and third best this year.  
ASU’s 937 total was also its best this spring and third best of the season.

A-State closed out the first round Monday in third place as well with a 313 and posted a 319 for the second round, which it concluded this morning with the final three holes.

Jennifer Loiacano led ASU with a 226 to place a season-best third, collecting her third top-10 finish this season.  The senior ended the 54-hole tournament with her best round, a 74, that followed a 75 and 77 for the first two, respectively.

“I am very excited about Jennifer playing so well,” head coach M.J. Desbiens Shaw said. “She definitely showed some maturity, drew from her experience and really put three good rounds together.  She has worked hard trying to improve her own scores and help the team, and she was able to accomplish that goal at this tournament.”

Loiacano was one of three ASU players to finish among the top-11 individual leaders, joined by senior Anna Carling and sophomore Marie Couffignal.  
Carling claimed a tie for seventh place to collect her third top-10 finish this season, while Couffignal was tied for 11th.

Carling also closed out the tournament with her best round as she shot a 73, the lowest score by an ASU player over the last two days.

 Carling’s 73 followed her 79 and 78 for the first and second rounds.  Couffignal, who joined the ASU team in the spring, collected her second top-20 finish over her first three tournaments played.  
She was tied for 11th, her best finish of the season, with rounds of 76, 80 and 76.

“I’m just so pleased with Marie and the effort that she is showing,” Shaw said.  “She just joined us this spring, but has already made a huge impact and I’m really excited about that.  I thought Anna did some nice things as well, and she showed some great playing ability and really hung in there.  Our goal is to win, but this third-place finish will still give us some good momentum heading into the UALR tournament.”

Also competing for Arkansas State, Anna Flanrey finished tied for 53rd place with a 253 and Courtney Manning 57th with a 256.

The Red Wolves finished just five strokes behind second-place Eastern Washington, while Houston Baptist won the title with a 926.  
Loiacano ended the tournament three strokes behind second-place Marissa Borja of Eastern Washington, and North Dakota State’s Amy Anderson was the individual medalist with a 209.

A-State returns to action March 25-26 at the UALR Classic in Hot Springs, Ark.