DIAZ TIES CAREER-BEST AS LIONS PLACE SEVENTH AT WORLD GOLF INVITE

Sara Diaz

2013 World Golf Invitational Final Results
Location: Slammer and Squires Golf Club • St. Augustine, Fla.
Result: A&M-Commerce places seventh out of 14 teams (66-over 642)
Top Finisher: Sara Diaz ties for 11th individually (10-over 154)
Up Next: Texoma Chevy Dealers Lion Intercollegiate • Mar. 11-12 • Pottsboro, Texas

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- Paced by a 26-over 314, A&M-Commerce moved up a pair of spots over the final round of the 2013 World Golf Invitational. The Lions finish the 36-hole tournament with a 66-over 642, placing seventh in the first tournament of the spring schedule.

Sara Diaz continued to be a consistent player, matching her 5-over 77 from round one to post a 10-over 54, finishing tied for 11th in the individual standings. It is the first top-20 finish of the season for the junior and the sixth of her A&M-Commerce career, tying her career-best finish at the 2011 UCO Broncho Classic.

Teammates Chantry McMahan and Chelsea McCoy carded the low rounds of the day for A&M-Commerce with a 4-over 76 as McMahan just misses a top-20 finish, tying for 23rd overall with a 15-over 159. McCoy was two shots back with a 17-over 161, tying for 30th out of 72 golfers. Haley Green (28-over 172) and Holly Jenkins (29-over 173) closed out the A&M-Commerce scorecard.

The Lions began the final round in ninth-place but made a run over the final 18 holes, shaving 14 strokes off their first round 328 and making the largest improvement of the 14-team field. A&M-Commerce finished four shots back of sixth-place USC Beaufort (62-over 638) and were 10 shots out of a top-five finish, a slot which belonged to Lone Star Conference rival Cameron (56-over 632).

Seminole State (Fla.) captured the team title with a 16-over 592, besting second-place Flagler (35-over 611) by 19 shots. UNC-Pembroke (40-over 616) finished third while Armstrong (41-over 617) placed fourth, distancing themselves from the fifth-place Aggies. UNC-Pembroke's Meghan Moore took home the individual title after shooting a 2-under 70 and carding a 2-under 142 for the tournament.

A&M-Commerce now will have a month off before returning to the links as the Lions will prepare to host the 2013 Texoma Chevy Dealers Lion Intercollegiate at Tanglewood Resort in Pottsboro. Over 20 teams are currently registered to compete in the annual event which will be held March 11-12.

2013 World Golf Invitational Final Results