McCurdy Americans move up

FAYETTEVILLE — University of Arkansas senior Amanda McCurdy paced the United States to a third-place showing at the 2005 Spirit International Amateur Championship in Trinity, Texas, Friday. McCurdy and teammate Paige Mackenzie teamed up for a final round, seven-under 65 as the ladies finished tied with South Africa for second place. McCurdy and Mackenzie paired with a duo of men’s golfers helping the United States finish third behind England and South Africa. The biennial event took place at Whispering Pines Golf Club just outside of Houston, Texas, this week with McCurdy earning Arkansas’ first invitation to the Olympic-like event. The tournament crowns five winners; overall, men’s and women’s team champion and an individual champion for both the men and women. McCurdy has enjoyed a stellar collegiate and amateur career. She paced Arkansas to its best-ever finish at the Southeastern Conference Championship in late April with a third-place showing. McCurdy and the Lady’Backs followed that up with an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Regional Championships earning the program’s first-ever trip to the NCAA Championship where the team finished 11th overall. McCurdy then represented Arkansas at the U.S. Women’s Open in Cherry Hills, Colo., tying for 68th overall. The three-day, 24-team event featured 72 holes of best ball play and serves as a tune-up for McCurdy. The El Dorado, Ark., native hurries home this weekend leading her team in Arkansas’ lone home event, the Tyson/Embassy Suites Invitational at Pinnacle Country Club beginning Sunday. Arkansas, ranked second in the most recent Golfstat.com poll, hosts the 16-team event with the Lady’Backs teeing off at 10:00 a.m., Sunday. For more information about Arkansas golf, log on to LADYBACKS.COM.