May 12, 2001

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.--The TCU women's golf team came up short in quest of the team's third NCAA Championships appearance in the last four years. The fourth-seeded Horned Frogs, who entered the day in 11th place at the East Regional, needed to move past three teams on the final day in order to advance to the NCAAs, but instead held in the 11th spot.

TCU scored a 304 on the final day and finished with a 52-over-par total of 916 in the three-day event. Sophomore Shannon Barr was the Frogs highest finisher and nearly qualified for the national championships as an individual. The first-team all-conference performer tied for 10th at the event with a 54-hole score of 222.

Even though the Frogs did not qualify for the NCAAs, Barr was still in the running because the top two individuals on non-qualifying teams also advance to the championships. Wake Forest's Marta Prieto (219) earned one spot, while Barr tied with Vanderbilt's Meredith Ward at 222 for the next lowest score. Thunder, lightning and torrential rain, which prevented seven teams from finishing final-round play, precluded a playoff. Since a playoff could not be played, NCAA rules stipulate that a tie is broken by the lowest score in the final round. Ward fired a 72 on Saturday, while Barr shot a 75.

Tournament officials ruled that all teams that did not finish earned a tie for 15th place, while the indidviduals who did not complete 54 holes tied for 79th.

For the Frogs, freshman Brooke Tull completed the tournament with 229 to share 35th place in her first regional appearance. All-conference honoree Jennifer Patterson (T44th-233) turned in the team's best final-round score, netting a two-over 74.

WAC Freshman of the Year Courtney Wood shot a 79 on the final day and landed in a tie for 56th position with a 237. Meanwhile, senior Brenda Anderson (239), who earned second-team all-WAC mention, closed out her career with a 61st-place finish.

The top-ranked Duke Blue Devils (871) won the event by eight strokes over fifth-ranked Auburn (879). Duke's Virada Nirapathpongporn (209) claimed medalist honors at seven-under-par.

TEAM TOTALS: Team Score 1. Duke 286-291-294=871 (+7), 2. Auburn 294-290-295=879 (+15), 3. Georgia 297-298-292=887 (+23), 4. South Florida 303-303-293=899 (+35), 5. New Mexico 299-303-300=902 (+38), 6. South Carolina 305-293-306=904 (+40), 7. San Jose State 299-308-300=907 (+43), 8. Pepperdine 307-297-304=908 (+44), 9. Wake Forest 306-301-302=909 (+45), 10. Vanderbilt 311-296-304=911 (+47), 11. TCU 302-310-304=916 (+52), 12. Michigan 308-308-309=925 (+61), 13. Campbell 308-317-306=931 (+67), 14. Charleston Southern 314-310-311=935 (+71), 15t. Northwestern 314-308-WD (DNF), 15t. Louisville 304-318-WD (DNF), 15t. Florida State 308-315-WD (DNF), 15t. San Diego State 310-316-WD (DNF), 15t. North Carolina 310-318-WD (DNF), 15t. Kansas State 323-315-WD (DNF), 15t. Jackson State 351-337-WD (DNF).

TCU INDIVIDUAL TOTALS: Individual Score 10t. Shannon Barr 73-74-75=222 (+6), 35t. Brooke Tull 72-80-77=229 (+13), 44t. Jennifer Patterson 76-83-74=233 (+17), 56t. Courtney Wood 82-76-79=237 (+21), 61t. Brenda Anderson 81-80-78=239 (+23).