BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Junior Bella Johnson finished second with a final round 73 to carry Charleston Southern to second as a team at the 2016 Samford Intercollegiate, which wrapped up on Tuesday at Greystone Golf & Country Club.
Johnson had an eagle on the par-4 12th hole to highlight her round and the best tournament of her career. She was CSU's top finisher and one of three Buccaneers to land in the Top 10, as momentum continues to build for CSU heading into the Big South Conference Championship next month.
"The girls fought hard today and just didn't quite score as well as yesterday," CSU Head Coach Matt Cram-Smith said Tuesday afternoon. "It was good to finish second though and get some momentum going for the last two tourneys of the season. It was also really nice to see Bella play well again today and finish second, which is her best ever college result."
Troy ran away with the team title, winning by 31 strokes over the Bucs and the rest of the 10-team field. The Trojans' Fatima Cano (-8) won the event by eight strokes over Johnson. She opened with 68s in the first two rounds and had an even-par 72 on Tuesday.
The Bucs finished with some distance between themselves and the rest of the field, as well. CSU (+37) finished nine strokes ahead of South Alabama (+46) and well ahead of Samford (+60).
Sophomore Milleina Ohara was the Bucs' No. 2 finisher, but as an individual. She was eighth and had a 75 (+3) in tough conditions in the final round. She was 11-over for the event and played her final two round at 3-over (75-72).
Fellow sophomore Emelie Flink tied for ninth to give CSU three Top 10s. She closed with a 76 (+4) and had a team-leading three birdies on the day.
Junior Shelby Thompson finished 15th and fired an 80 on Tuesday, while sophomore Hayley McNeill was 19th after a 78 (+6) in her final round. Junior Hannah Barger added an 81 (+9) and finished 24th.
CSU has a week off before traveling to Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. for the Web.com Intercollegiate at Marsh Landing Golf Club.
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