The No. 2 Alabama women’s golf team caught fire in Sunday’s final round of the PING/ASU Invitational with a season-low 11-under 277 to overcome a four-shot deficit and win by nine strokes on the par-72, 6,233-yard Karsten Golf Course.
The Crimson Tide, which trailed No. 3 Duke by four shots entering the round, finished at 19-under-par 845 for the 9-shot win over the Blue Devils. It was the fifth win of the season and a school-record third straight for Alabama. The 11-under 277 tied the second lowest round in school history while the 19-under-par total of 845 was the second lowest total in school history.
Emma Talley, a freshman from Princeton, Ky., earned the first tournament win of her career with a 9-under-par total of 207, which was also a career best. She fired rounds of 68, 69 and 70 to edge UCLA’s Erynne Lee and UC-Davis’ Demi Runas by two shots.
Junior Stephanie Meadow fired her second consecutive 3-under-par 69 to post a tie for eighth place at 4-under-par 212. Senior Jennifer Kirby led all Crimson Tide players with a 5-under-par 67 to finish tied for 10th at 3-under-par 213.
Junior Hannah Collier carded a 1-under 71 in round three to count as Alabama’s fourth score. She finished tied for 31st at 3-over 219. Sophomore Daniela Lendl shot even-par 72 in Sunday’s final round to post a tie for 22nd at even-par 216, which is a career best.
Arizona and Stanford finished tied for third at 2-under 862 while No. 1 Southern California tied with host Arizona State for fifth at 1-under 863.
The Crimson Tide will return home for the SEC Championship at Greystone Golf and Country Club in Birmingham, Ala., April 19-21.