Sept. 25, 2011

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Junior Sara Monberg and freshman AJ Newell each carded 4-over 76s to lead the seventh-ranked Tennessee women's golf team during the final round of competition at the Mason Rudolph Fall Preview Sunday.

The Lady Vols finished 17th in a very competitive field that featured each of the preseason top 14 teams in the country. The invitation-only event was held at the Legends Club in Nashville, Tenn. - the site of the 2012 NCAA Championship.

The Big Orange totaled 303-308-313=924 (+60) over three days at the Vanderbilt-hosted tournament.

"Today again was a struggle for the four players," head coach Judi Pavón said. "Both Sara and AJ played better today so that was good to see, but we can't count two scores in the 80s, with or without all five players."

UCLA took the team title with a nine-over 873 while Duke's Lindy Duncan and Alabama's Jennifer Kirby led individuals with four-under 212 totals. Duncan defeated Kirby on the first playoff hole to take the Preview's individual title.

Monberg, along with sophomore Chessey Thomas, led UT at the event, tying for 52nd with 229 tallies. Thomas led Tennessee with seven birdies on the weekend.

Newell posted her strongest round of the weekend Sunday, with a three-over 76 in the Preview's final day. She finished seven strokes behind Thomas and Monberg (236) and tied for 77th.

"I felt a lot more comfortable today on the course," Newell said. "I was hitting it a lot better and made a few more putts... It was a tough field for sure. Everyone out there was a great golfer."

Rounding out scores for the Orange and White, sophomore Kaitlyn Rohrback tied for 81st with a 238 (+22), while junior Erica Popson carded a 75 (+3) mark in her lone round of competition in Nashville.

"We will have a week and a half before our next tournament," Pavón said, "so we are going to get some hard work in and hopefully get everybody healthy."

Tennessee returns to action Oct. 7-9 at the UNC Tar Heel Invitational in Chapel Hill, N.C.

LADY VOL SCORES
t52.	Chessey Thomas	75-74-80=229
t52.	Sara Monberg	74-79-76=229
t77.	AJ Newell	79-81-76=236
t81.	Kaitlyn Rohrback	83-74-81=238
(93).	Erica Popson	75-W-W
17.	TENNESSEE	303-308-313=924