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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Cougar Classic
Natalie Gleadall Wins Cougar Classic, Rebels Finish Second
9/14/2010 | Women's Golf
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Junior Natalie Gleadall shot a final round 67 to capture medalist honors at the Cougar Classic here Tuesday, to lead the Ole Miss women's golf team to a second place finish at Yeamans Hall.
Gleadall won her first collegiate title and the second for the Rebels in three years, with a career-best 75-69-67--211. Her 211 total ties for the second lowest in school history with former All-American Dori Carter, who holds the top four spots.
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The Onatario, Canada native recorded 14 birdies in the final two rounds to go from a tie for 38th after the first round to first.
"I hit the ball really well all week long. The first day my putts weren't going in. The second and third day they were going in. I just stuck to my game plan," Gleadall said. "It means so much to win this, because I've been through a lot the last year and a half. I've been in this position before and wasn't able to get it done, so to be able to pull it out is amazing.
"I am just so proud of the team. We had a great strategy, and we stuck to it. Our coaches did a really good job of keeping us focused and not letting us get too far ahead."
Speaking of the team, the Rebels fired a school record 868 to take runner-up honors. After starting with a 300 on Sunday, the team came out strong in the second round with a 4-under 284 and equaled that score in the final round to go from 10th to 2nd in two days.
The Rebels beat three top 25 teams Florida (No. 19), Florida State (No. 22) and South Carolina (No. 25). North Carolina won the team title with an 860. Oklahoma (872), South Carolina (873) and Florida (875) rounded out the top five.
"We are real proud of the way we played this tournament. This is exactly the way we wanted to start the season," head coach Michele Drinkard said. The girls played great. They stepped up to the challenge of strategizing the course. They learned how to improve by creating a strategy, sticking to it and executing it. One of our goals this year is to play the par 5s better, because that's what wins tournaments. We did a great job of that these last three days."
Junior Haley Millsap shot a 3-under 69 to jump up to a tie for 11th in the final individual standings. She carded six birdies in the final round for her best finish as a Rebel.
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Senior Jillian Brodd and junior Ashley Lance both tied for 29th at 223. In her debut, freshman Christina Miller shot 226, with a second round 69 sandwiched in between, which helped the Rebels move up the leaderboard on Monday. Competing as an individual, redshirt freshman Kathryn Fowler also tied for 29th with a 223.
"This gives us great momentum to start off the season. The way we closed yesterday and today, shooting under par for our last three holes, that's what it takes to win," Drinkard added. "We are ready to get home and analyze our results and start preparing for Oklahoma's tournament in 10 days."
Ole Miss returns to the links Sept. 25-27 at the Suzie Maxwell Berning in Norman, Okla.
COUGAR CLASSIC - CHARLESTON, S.C.
TEAM STANDINGS (FINAL)
1. North Carolina 285-285-290--860
2. Ole Miss 300-284-284--868
3. Oklahoma 293-291-288--872
4. South Carolina 291-288-294--873
5. Florida 292-294-289--875
6. Florida State 296-294-298--888
7. Minnesota 289-296-307--892
8. College of Charleston 297-298-301--896
9. Wisconsin 303-302-292--897
10. Kentucky 302-308-288--898
T11. Maryland 309-298-296--903
T11. UCF 297-303-303--903
13. North Carolina State 308-304-296--908
T14. Penn State 297-309-303--909
T14. Furman 304-297-308--909
16. South Florida 305-307-306--918
T17. Richmond 310-307-304--921
T17. UNCG 300-318-303--921
19. Miami 317-307-303--927
20. Mississippi State 315-306-309--930
21. Charleston Southern 322-315-329--966
OLE MISS INDIVIDUALS
1. Natalie Gleadall 75-69-67--211
T11 Haley Millsap 75-74-69--218
T29 Ashley Lance 78-72-73--223
T29 Jillian Brodd 72-76-75--223
T29. Kathryn Fowler * 75-73-75--223
T45 Christina Miller 79-69-78--226
