Salazar Records Top 25 Finish

Clemson, S.C.—Clemson sophomore golfer Lauren Salazar finished 22^nd individually with a 223 score to lead the Tigers at the Lady Puerto Rico Classic in Rio Mar, Puerto Rico.  The 54-hole event concluded on Tuesday on the par 72 River Course that is 6,203 yards in length.

Clemson finished 14^th overall in the 15-team tournament that featured teams from the ACC, the SEC, the Big Ten and the Big 12.  Clemson finished with a score of 936 for the three-day event, including a 307 total on the final day, the team’s best round of the tournament.

Salazar had rounds of 77-72-74 in finishing at seven-over-par for the 54 holes.  The native of California had 38 pars for the tournament, tied for seventh best in the field.  She shot two-over-par for her final 36 holes, one of just 15 players in the 82-player field to shoot 146 or better over the final two rounds.

The 22^nd place finish was the best individual finish by a Clemson golfer this year and it was the best finish for Salazar in any tournament since last March when she was seventh at Briar’s Creek

Freshman Marisa Messana was Clemson’s second best player at the tournament with a 232 score.  Her top round was on Monday when she had a 74, a round that included four birdies.  She shot a 34 on the back nine on Tuesday when she shot 77.

Jessica Hoang shot a 79 on Tuesday to finish at 236.  She was Clemson’s best player in the first round with a 73.  McKenzie Talbert improved in each round of the tournament and finished with a 77 on Tuesday.

Clemson will return to action next week at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Invitational at English Turn in New Orleans.

Lady Puerto Rico Classic,  Feb. 15-17, 2015

Rio Mar River Course, Rio Mar, Puerto Rico

1.    Arkansas 876, 2. LSU 883, 3. Iowa State 884, 4. Northwestern 886, 5. Purdue 890, 6. Kent State 892, 7. TCU 893, 8. NC State 901, and Indiana 901, 10. Auburn 903, 11. GRU-Augusta 909, 12. Georgia 932, 13. Iowa 933, 14. Clemson 936, 15. Michigan 946.

Clemson Individuals

22. Lauren Salazar 223, 49. Marisa Messana 232, 61. Jessica Hoang 236, 77. McKenzie Talbert 245, 82. Riley Lovorn 263