Oct. 12, 2008

KNOXVILLE, TENN. -

• Complete Results

The University of North Carolina women's golf team fired a nine-over-par 297 in the final round of the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship and fininshed in a tie for second place. The Tar Heels' 10-over 874 total was nine strokes behind LSU's 865 after the Tigers fired a seven-under 281 on Sunday to claim the team crown.

Carolina senior Sydney Crane, from Jamestown, N.C., tied for eighth place in the individual race at even par 216 after carding a four-over 76 in the final round. Tar Heel freshman Allie White also posted a 76 on Sunday, White, from Lancaster, Ohio, tied for 15th place at three-over 219. Junior Kate Thomas, from Murwillumbah, Australia, finished one stroke back at 220 after firing a one-over 73 in the final round. Catherine O'Donnell, a freshman from Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., tallied a 223 total to tie for 28th place after shooting a 76. Senior Lauren Hunt was the low Tar Heel on Sunday firing an even par 72. Hunt, from Little River, S.C., finished with a 225 total tying for 36th place.

Carolina, which led going into the final round, and NC State tied for second place, one stroke ahead of Louisville which finished fourth with an 875 total. Mississippi finished fifth at 881 while Arkansas placed sixth at 885, Kent State seventh at 887 and host Tennessee finished eighth with an 890 total.

Lauren Doughtie of NC State captured the individual championship after firing a four-under 68 on Sunday for a seven-under 209 total, two strokes ahead of Mississippi's Dori Carter and Louisville's Cindy LaCrosse, who both finished at five-under 211. Kirby Dreher of Kent State and Megan McChrystal of LSU tied for third place with 213 total totals. Marika Lendl of Central Florida, who led going into the final round, shot a 76 to finish at two-under 214 in sixth place. Nicole Crochet of LSU finished alone in seventh place at one-under 215 while Carolina's Crane tied for eighth place with Kelli Shean of Arkansas at even par 216.

The 54-hole event was played at Fox Den Country Club which features a par 72, 6,058-yard layout. The Tar Heels conclude their fall campaign Oct. 24-26 when they travel to Wilmington, N.C., to play in The Landfall Tradition.