HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. - Highlighted by top ten finishes from Jessica Welch, Sabrina Rumbaugh and Shania Berger, the Jacksonville University women's golf team took second in a 17 team field at the Bearcat Spring Classic held at the Mission Inn Resort Los Colinas course this weekend. The Dolphins completed the 54-hole, three day event with a 301 team score on Sunday to finish at 917 (316-300-301) for the tournament.
"Getting contributions from the whole team is huge for us. This course had some holes that were really quirky and it took us a couple of rounds to adjust," said Head Coach Jennifer Borocz of the Dolphins big turnaround in rounds two and three on Saturday and Sunday. "Once we got familiar with the course we could see what worked and were able to make the swings we needed with confidence."
Welch earns her fifth top ten of the year as she tied for fifth at eight-over, 225 (78-73-74). She wrapped up play with a two-over 74 on Sunday that included three of her nine birdies for the tournament. Rumbaugh meanwhile closed with a final round 76 after playing the final 10 holes in one-over. She tied for seventh overall at nine-over 226 (81-69-76) as the performance marked her second top 10 of the year and seventh top 25.
"Jess didn't have a good start to the first round, but she is a competitor and fought through to turn it around on the back nine yesterday," Borocz said. "Sabrina had a lot of good opportunities the last two rounds. She hit the ball well and is starting to come into form at the right time of year."
Berger, who has been battling injury all spring, had a career best finish this week tying for 10th. After grinding out 77s in the first two rounds she posted a two-over, 74 on Sunday making three birdies on the day. Berger ended the tournament at 11-over, 228 (77-77-74).
"Having Shania back to 100 percent obviously helps us quite a bit," said Borocz. "She had to fight through to finish on Saturday and had a really solid performance today."
Megan Collins attributed to the Dolphins final round team score with a 77 for her best round of the tournament after playing her final six holes in even par.
"I was really proud of the way Megan fought through on Saturday," added Borocz. "She was pretty ill in the morning before the round, but fought past it to put up a respectable score that really saved us."
Jacksonville has one regular season tournament remaining before the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship in mid-April. The Dolphins will return to action by hosting the Web.com Intercollegiate on March 30-31 at Marsh Landing Country Club.
Borocz concluded, "We are all coming into form here right at the end of the year which is where we wanted to be."