FINAL RESULTS

GLENCOE – Led by junior Lucia Fernandez Valdes' second even-par round in as many days, the Jacksonville State women's golf team ran away with the Chris Banister Golf Classic on Tuesday at Silver Lakes Golf Course.

Fernandez Valdes, a native of Cordoba, Argentina, finished the tournament at one over after carding a three-day score of 217 (73-72-72) to lead three Gamecocks in the top four. She becomes the first JSU player to win medalist honors in the annual event since Mercedes Huarte in 2005, also the last time the Gamecocks claimed the team title.

“I thought that we played very, very well all three days,” JSU head coach James Hobbs said. “We were able to get out to a lead on the first day and capitalize on that on the second day. I thought we came out in the third round and were in control of our game and the tournament. Our girls played with a lot of poise today.”

Sophomore Ornella Arrizon (75-76-75-226) fired a three-over 75 on Tuesday to climb into sole possession of second place, two shots ahead of junior Astrid Parsson (75-75-78), who tied Florida Gulf Coast's Brianna Carlson for third. Freshman Lourdes Lopez (81-77-76-234) and senior Laura Cutler (77-82-76) rounded out the Gamecocks on the team leaderboard in 15th and 16th places, respectively. Sophomore Luz Armijo Fernandez (77-73-80) finished seventh as an individual on the 5,943-yard layout.

“We had several girls play really well, despite having very few days of practice and classes,” Hobbs added. “Lucia had a great tournament, and Ornella and Astrid played very well to finish towards the top of the leaderboard. Anytime you put players at the top of the leaderboard, you always put your team in position to win, and that's what we did this week.”

Defending champion Lamar finished 28 shots behind the Gamecocks with a team score of 927, while Florida Gulf Coast shot a 303 in the final round of the 54-hole event to move into third place with a 933, while Mercer (937) fell to fourth. Butler (946), Samford (950) and Evansville (982) rounded out the seven-team field, respectively. Lamar's Julie Aime and Katelyn McDougal rounded out the top five tied at 229.

The Gamecocks will return to action on Sept. 18-19, when they compete in the Great Smokies Women's Intercollegiate in Waynesville, N.C. The JSU men's team will open its season on Monday at the Spring Hill Suites Intercollegiate in Florence, S.C.