Feb. 12, 2008

ENSADA, Mexico. - Virginia Espejo shot a nine-over 81 in the final round to lead Southern Miss to a fifth-place finish at the Baja Invitational in Ensada, Mexico.

Espejo, a freshman from Madrid, Spain, shot finished the two-day event with a score of 237.

Heather Golden and Jennifer Judge, playing as an individual, each finished in a tie for 13th-place. Golden shot an 85, while Judge shot an 83 for a three-round total of 238. Samantha Holt, playing as an individual, shot a final round 82 for a three-round total of 241 to finish in a tie for 18th. Junior Kate Burns finished in a tie for 20th-place after shooting a final round 83 for a 242.

Sophomore Rebecka Nilsson tied for 24th-place after shooting an 81 for a total of 244. Jennifer Bodemann, playing as an individual, tied for 30th after shooting a 250. Clare Viladomiu tied for 30th-place after shooting an 84 for a total of 253. Helena Backlund and Ashley Joubert, playing as individuals, round out the roster, finishing in 46th and a tie for 47th, respectively. Backlund shot a 95 (265), while Joubert closed with a 92 (266).

Tyrette Metzendorf of Iowa won the individual competition by shooting an eight-over 224. Bradley's Rikki Sobel and USC-Upstate's Richia Wedzik finished tied for second after shooting a 13-over 229.

Iowa won the team competition with 941 overall strokes. Kennesaw State finished in second with 947 strokes, while Southern Illinois finished in third with 950 strokes. Bradley came in fourth at 953, followed by Southern Miss at 961, Drake at and North Texas at 981, USC-Upstate at 990 and Northern Illinois at 1,028.

Southern Miss returns to play this weekend, February 16-18, in Miami, Fla. at the Papa Johns Invitational, hosted by Miami (Fla.).