Lewis wins the 2005 SEC Championship

Jump to agate TUNICA, Miss. – Redshirt freshman Stacy Lewis posted a school and course record 67 winning the individual the 2005 Southeastern Conference Championship individual title in Tunica, Miss., Sunday. The Lady Razorbacks got off the course in fifth place overall but high scores by the leaders made the team scores tight at the finish. In fact, Arkansas moved from fifth to a school-record third-place finish missing a playoff by one stroke. Tied for third overall with Auburn, LSU and Georgia still playing, all three teams imploded and the margins narrowed. The Lady Razorbacks, with no control over the events, watched as LSU faded to fourth and Auburn and Georgia each turned in a plus 40 round to tie for the team title at 905. Arkansas was one stroke behind with a final 906 missing the playoff by one stroke. The team playoff is the first time in recent memory that the golf tournament has had a team tie. In addition, the third-place finish is the best-ever in school history for Arkansas bettering a fifth-place showing in 1999. “I’m a little frustrated that we finished out of the lead today,” said Arkansas head coach Kelley Hester, “but it was very exciting to be in this position. We are so close and this should serve as a great lesson for the future of our program.” Lewis birdied the 10th hole giving the Woodlands, Texas, native the lead for good as she finished with a 67 on the day and 214 (72-75-67). “It hasn’t really sunk in yet,” said Lewis. “It’s amazing. I really didn’t start to feel it until about the fourth or fifth hole. It was just so easy today. I kept my composure and made a lot of putts today.” Lewis opened the day with a blistering three-under 33 on the par-72, 6,281-yard Tunica National Golf Course as she and the Lady Razorbacks teed off from number one. She ripped her tee shot off number one, a 345-yard straight away par four, staying out of the multiple water and bunker hazards, to go one-under right away. She played the next two holes even but bettered her score with birdies on four and five. Lewis drained a lengthy putt on the fourth hole, a 162-yard par-3 and a sloping green. She improved to three-under on the fifth hole, a 349-yard dog-leg left. Lewis went lower at the turn counting a three on the par-4 tenth hole but gave it back on the 12th hole remaining at three-under. Three birdies and a bogey on the back left Lewis at five under on the day giving Arkansas its first ever SEC winner. Lewis’ victory is the third of the season for the freshman. Lewis’ finish is the best in program history bettering the previous mark, a tie for fifth overall, from Lina Axelsson in 2003, in Lexington, Ky. The Lady’Backs had two other top 10 finishes, both tied for ninth with Kristy Kortuem in 2000 and Adrienne Mucci in 1999. As a team Arkansas improved several spots for a third-place finish, also the best ever in school history. The Lady Razorbacks posted a final round 295 with a solid 73 from senior Gena Johnson. Senior Lindsey Hinshaw improved in the final round as well counting a 77 while junior Courtney Mahon posted a 78. Junior Amanda McCurdy eagled the 10th hole, the only eagle of the tournament, finishing with a 79 on the day. Johnson tied for 19th was the senior’s best conference finish ever as was McCurdy’s tie for 26th overall. “Things didn’t start out easy for us today,” said Hester. “We had several kids who were over par early. We finished strong. Gena came in with a 73 which was great. We played really solid today with nearly everyone improving.” Auburn and Georgia tied for the win with identical 904s, followed by the Lady Razorbacks with 905. LSU and Tennessee tied for fourth overall at 906, followed by Florida with a 911, South Carolina with 914, Kentucky at 923, Vanderbilt with a 927, Alabama at 933, Mississippi State with 947 and Mississippi with 969. The Lady Razorbacks return to Fayetteville awaiting the NCAA Regional announcement in two weeks. For more information about Arkansas golf log on to LADYBACKS.COM.

Lewis’ final round scorecard