North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
NC State Saguaro Cactus Classic
Dean Wins Saguaro Classic
2/24/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Feb. 24, 2004
TUCSON, Ariz. - Ashlee Dean won the NC State Saguaro Classic Tuesday at the par 70, 6,029-yard Dell Urich Golf Course in Tucson, Ariz. The junior from Henderson, N.C., followed up a first-round 69 with a 72 in the final round to finish one over par and one stroke ahead of runner-up Darby Sligh from Alabama. It is Dean's first collegiate tournament win of her career and she becomes just the second Wolfpack player to capture medalist honors at a varsity tournament, joining former NC State golfer Beth Schumacher, who won the 1981 Seahawk Fall Invitational.
The Wolfpack surrendered its four stroke lead to the Crimson Tide, which shaved seven strokes off its first-round score to win the tournament by nine shots and NC State finished second.
Originally scheduled for three rounds of 18 holes over three days, Monday's action was rained out and therefore the tournament was abbreviated to a 36-hole event.
Molly Birmingham finished fourth overall with a 146, Briana Vega took 15th with a 146, Courtney Pomeranz placed 22nd with a 157 and Lorraine Ballerano came in 27th with a 158. Vega was the only member of NC State's team who matched her first round score, while Colby Cobb and Margaux Hennessey, who both played the tournament as unaffiliated individuals, both improved their scores to finish 10th and 22nd respectively.
The Wolfpack returns to action March 5-7 at the LSU/Cleveland Golf Classic at the University Golf Club in Baton Rouge, La.
1 Alabama, 298-291=589 (+29)
2 NC State, 294-304=598 (+38)
3 Denver, 310-297=607 (+47)
4 Miami, 312-296=608 (+48)
5 Arizona State, 306-305=611 (+51)
6 Kentucky, 305-308=613 (+53)
7 Georgetown, 322-318=640 (+80)
