Alabama State Wins National Women’s Collegiate Golf Classic

STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. – The 2011 SWAC Women’s Golf Champion Alabama State Lady Hornets added another title to the mantle Sunday, winning the 17th National Women’s Collegiate Golf Classic at Stone Mountain Golf Course.

The Lady Hornets finished with a 671 score in the 36-hole event, holding off a strong charge from second place South Carolina State (678). Hampton University (690) finished third.

ASU shot 344 on Sunday, not as strong as they did Saturday, while S.C. State improved by 24 strokes. However, it was not enough to take the title away from the Lady Hornets.

“I’m relieved” said Hornets’ Gary Grandison said of winning the event for the first time. “It was definitely a tough round on a tough course. We struggled. We had a lot of bad breaks today. One of our players (Aileen Meredith) had five birdies and still shot in the 80s.”

Meredith’s 84 on Sunday helped her to a third-place finish with a score of 164, two shots behind teammate Amelie Buhl, who finished second with a 162 (76-86). Taaj Hubbard’s 169 (84 – 85) led to a tied for sixth place and Danielle Robinson finished 14th with a score of 176 (87-89).

The Lady Hornets entered Sunday with a 21-stroke lead, and went through a new experience as the day one leader in tough tournament field.

“We had balls on rocks that you couldn’t move. We had balls that hit tree roots and took bad bounces,” Grandison said. “We just had a tough time, preserved and did just enough to bring home the title. It was a new environment for us. It was new, and we are a young team. We just had tough breaks today.”

Sunday’s title caps a championship week for the Lady Hornets, who began by winning their first-ever SWAC Championship Tuesday.

“It’s incredible,” Grandison said of the championships won this week. “This tournament was just as important to our program because this is where the top programs among HBCUs compete in. Winning this tournament solidifies our position among HBCUs.”

The Lady Hornets will learn their NCAA Tournament destination Monday night.