University of North Carolina Athletics
Duke Grabs Win In Franklin Street Trust Tar Heel Invitational/North Carolina Finishes Second
October 7, 2001 | Women's Golf
Oct. 7, 2001
| Round 1 Tee Times | Round 2 Tee Times | Round 3 Tee Times |
| Round 2 Team Breakdowns |
| Round 1 Team Breakdowns | Round 1 Individual Scores | Round 1 Standings |
| Final Round Team Breakdowns |
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Duke University fired a 296 for a total of 30-over-par 894 to win the Franklin Street Trust Tar Heel Invitational. North Carolina followed 17 shots behind with a score of 911 after shooting a 305 in the final round. Coming in third was second-ranked Vanderbilt, posting a 306 to give them a 50-over 914 total, three shots behind second-place Carolina. Rounding out the top five in close competition were Wake Forest and Georgia, carding scores of 921 and 922, respectively.
Firing the only sub-par score of the day, Duke's Kristina Engstrom led the tournament individually with a score of 70 and a three-over total of 219. Vanderbilt's Nicki Cutler came in second place overall with a total of six-over-par 222. Following close behind were Nuria Clau from Wake Forest, Meredith Ward from Vanderbilt, and Abby Spector from North Carolina, posting 223, 224, and 225, respectively, to take the third, fourth, and fifth place spots. Finishing in sixth was a trio of Georgia's Summer Sirmons, Duke's Leigh Anne Hardin and North Carolina's Ashley Prange who carded scores of 10-over 226. Tied for ninth place are Tar Heel Shelly McKevitt and Blue Devil Niloufar Aazam-Zanganeh with 227 totals.
Leading Duke in the final round was Kristina Engstrom who shot a two-under 70 for a 219 total, the lowest round for any day of the tournament as well as the lowest total . Following for the Blue Devils in sixth place was Leigh Anne Hardin, scoring a 75 for the day and a 226 total. Niloufar Aazam-Zanganeh carded a 78 in the third round, giving her a total score of 11-over 227 to secure a ninth place postition. Virada Nirapathpongporn, Duke's leader from the second round, fired 74 today for a total of 229, putting her in ninth place. Rounding out Duke's top five was Maria Garcia-Estrada in 27th place with a score of 77 for the day and 234 overall.
The top Tar Heel finisher was junior Abby Spector in fifth place with a third round score of 74 and total of nine-over 225. Coming in sixth was sophomore Ashley Prange carding a 76 today and a total of 226, one shot behind Spector. Senior Shelley McKevitt finished in ninth place and followed Prange by one stroke with a 77 in the third round and a total of 227. Senior Beth Lever and junior Meghan Adams rounded out the top five for the Tar Heels posting scores of 233 and 241, respectively, to place them 23rd and 43rd overall. Of the individuals on the team Coach Sally Austin commented, 'It was a total team effort. There is no competition among the team members which makes us better. The players that didn't play are practicing hard, pushing for those who do play.'
The Tar Heels took second place in the tournament, their highest finish since the fall of 1998 when they also came in second under Duke. Coach Austin said, "It was a good tournament for us although there is still room for improvement. We can do better than second."
Players Mentioned
