MURRAY, Ky. - Four players in the top 20 sparked the WKU women's golf team to a second-place finish Saturday at Murray State's Jan Weaver Invitational.
The Lady Toppers shot a 299 team total on Saturday - their best round of the tournament - to finish at 917 (307-311-299) across three rounds at the par-72, 6,017-yard Miller Memorial Golf Course.
WKU has finished third or better as a team in five of 10 events this season, and in the top five in seven tournaments.
"I'm proud of the way the team came back today after a difficult wind in the first and second round," WKU head coach Adam Gary said. "Murray State is a good team and it's hard to beat them on their home course. I'm pleased with how we played, and we made some good strides going into conference next week."
Host Murray State won the team title at 893 in the 10-team field and had two individuals share medalist honors.
WKU junior Georgina Blackman finished three strokes out of the lead and tied for fifth with a 225 (76-77-72) total, including an even-par 72 in Saturday's final round. That was WKU's best score of the tournament, and the Essex, England, native also tied for the tourney lead in birdies with nine.
The result was Blackman's third straight of sixth place or better and her fifth top-10 finish of the season. She's been in the top 25 in nine of 10 events this year.
Freshman Mary Joiner tied for seventh at 228 (77-75-76), marking her fourth top-10 finish of the season. Junior Katie Story notched her fourth top-15 performance in her last five outings by tying for 14th at 232 (76-80-76).
Freshman Abigail Smee tallied the best result of her young career by tying for 16th at 233 (78-79-76). Junior Emily Alexander tied for 27th at 238 (86-77-75) while competing as an individual, and freshman Bailey Tyree tied for 38th at 242 (84-83-75) - including a career-best 75 on Saturday.
Five of the six competing Lady Toppers shot or tied their best round of the tournament Saturday.
The event was WKU's last before heading into the Conference USA Championship, which takes place April 17-19 at the Verandah Golf Club in Fort Myers, Fla.
Jan Weaver Invitational Final Results
T5. Georgina Blackman (76-77-72-225)
T7. Mary Joiner (77-75-76-228)
T14. Katie Story (76-80-76-232)
T16. Abigail Smee (78-79-76-233)
T27. Emily Alexander (86-77-75-238)
T38. Bailey Tyree (84-83-75-242)
