FINAL RESULTS

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The two-time defending national champion and top-ranked Nova Southeastern University women’s golf team earned its second straight Sunshine State Conference Tournament title on Tuesday as the team won by three shots with a three round score of 41 over par 905.

“Our entire team contributed to the win today,” head coach Kevin Marsh said.

Sandra Changkija (Sr., Orlando, Fla.) led from start to finish and like yesterday, had an up and down day on the links. She was able hold her composure at the end of her final round and birdied her last hole to capture her second straight SSC individual title with a four-over par 216 (72-72-76). For Changkija, this marks her fifth individual victory this season.

“Sandra handled herself really well today,” Marsh said. “She enters every tournament as the favorite and delivers on every one by being in contention. It is something that is special to see.”

The Sharks recorded four players in the top-11 for the tournament. Taylor Collins (Sr., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) backed up her six over par total yesterday with a two over par score of 74 on Tuesday finishing in third place with a final score of eight over par 224 (74-76-74). Collins was steady in her front nine as she carded a birdie, bogey and seven pars, but slipped on the back nine with three bogeys in four holes on her way in for her final score.

Nicole Whitmore (Sr., Milton Keyes, England) was two over par after 11 holes, but could not keep the momentum carding two double-bogeys on her next three holes. Overall, the senior shot a 79 in the final round to tally a 14-over par 230 (76-75-79) for the tournament earning her a sixth-place finish.

Abbey Gittings (So., Tamworth, England) posted a double and a triple bogey on the card today, but managed to keep her score below 80. The sophomore birdied two of her last seven holes to finish with a score of 79. In total for the three-round tournament, Gittings carded a 15-over par score of 231 (78-74-79) and tied for 11th place.

The struggles continued for Mona Fredrika Hakansson (Sr., Vero Beach, Fla.) as she started with a triple bogey on her first hole. She was able to bounce back and posted two birdies for her round and kept her score under 80 with a 79. Hakansson tallied a 239 (78-82-79) for the tournament which earned her a tie for 21st place overall.

As a team, this marks the fifth consecutive win for NSU and seventh of the season.

The second-ranked Florida Southern Moccasins finished in second place with a score of 45 over par 909 over the three rounds. No. 5 Rollins followed in third place at 50 over par 914. It was 45 shots that separated third and fourth place as Lynn fired a 95 over par 959 for fourth place. Saint Leo rounded out the top-five as the Lions carded a 98 over par 963 for the tournament.

“The team goal at the beginning of the year was geared around the regional tournament,” Marsh said. “Even though I am thrilled about the victory today, I walked away with a list of things to work on before the regional tournament because we know to qualify for nationals you must do well at regionals.”

The Sharks take two weeks off before traveling to Lakeland, Fla. for the NCAA South Regional Tournament beginning on May 1.