Clemson Women Finish 10th at Rebel Intercollegiate

Clemson, S.C.—McKenzie Talbert and Marisa Messana both had rounds of two-over-par 74 to lead Clemson to a 10^th place finish at the 18-team Rebel Intercollegiate at the University of Mississippi Golf Course in Oxford, Miss on Sunday.  Clemson finished the three-day, 54-hole event with a 900 score.

It was Clemson’s final tournament of the regular season.  Next up for J.T. Horton’s Tigers is the ACC Tournament in Greensboro, N.C. April 17-19 at Sedgefield Country Club.

The 10^th place finish was the best this season for the Tigers, who have played one of the toughest schedules in the nation.  Another reason for the improvement was the return to the lineup of All-ACC golfer Sloan Shanahan, who had not played this spring due to injury.  Shanahan had a 75 in the second round that tied for Clemson’s best score of the second round and her score counted towards the team score in two of her three rounds.

Texas A&M won the tournament with a 858 score, while 18^th ranked Kent State was second at 861.  Tenth ranked Tennessee was third with an 869 score and 15^th ranked Furman was fourth with an 875 total.

Talbert’s score of two-over-par 74 on Sunday was her best since October 6 when she had a 72 in the final round of the Schooner Fall Classic at the University of Oklahoma.  On Sunday she had three birdies on the back nine, her first nine of the day.   Messana had four birdies in her final round, high among Clemson golfers in any round in the tournament. That included birdies on two of her last four holes. 

Jessica Hoang was Clemson’s top golfer for the tournament with a 224 score, eight-over-par for her 54 holes.  She had consistent rounds of 74-75-75 and finished in a tie for 32^nd place in the individual race.  She had 38 pars out of her 54 holes, eighth best in the field.  It was her second straight tournament with a top 35 finish, the only Lady Tiger who can make that claim for the last two events.

Lauren Salazar, Clemson’s top scorer for the year, shot an 81 on Sunday, but she had been Clemson’s top golfer through 36 holes with scores of 73 and 75.  The sophomore from California finished with 37 pars, 11^th best in the field. She finished in a tie for 60^th with a 229 score.

Shanahan had a 77 on Sunday and finished with a 231 total for her 54 holes, while Talbert finished at 234.

Clemson at Rebel Intercollegiate

University of Mississippi Golf Course, Oxford, Miss

April 3-5, 2015

1.  Texas A&M 858, 2. Kent State 861, 3. Tennessee 869, 4. Furman 875, 5.Fresno State 877, 6. Kennesaw State 885, 7. Maryland 886, 8. East Tennessee State 894, 9. Mississippi 866, 10.  Clemson and Samford 900,  12. Murray State 901, 13.Memphis 905, 14. Harvard 907, 15. Tulsa 912, 16. Mercer 928, 17. Southern Mississippi 931, 18. Alabama State 951.       

Clemson Individuals

32. Jessica Hoang 224, 37. Marisa Messana 225, 60.  Lauren Salazar 229, 69. Sloan Shanahan 231, 75. McKenzie Talbert 234.