UVA Wins Fossum Invitational as Redding Ties for First
East Lansing, Mich. – The Virginia women’s golf team won Michigan State’s Mary Fossum Invitational on Sunday, using a furious finish to overtake the Spartans on their home course. The Cavaliers finished the 54-hole event at 7-under 857, shooting 2-under 286 during Sunday’s final round. Michigan State was second at 859 and Florida was third at 862.
UVA senior Anna Redding (Concord, N.C.) tied for first place with Michigan State’s Allyson Geer-Park at 9-under 207. It was the first championship of Redding’s career and her 54-hole total matched her best tournament score as a Cavalier. After opening with rounds of 69 and 68 on Saturday, Redding finished with a 2-under 70 on Sunday.
Redding had three birdies over her final six holes as the Hoos got red-hot down the stretch to earn the victory in Ria Scott’s debut as UVA’s head coach. During the final round, Virginia’s four counting players combined to play the last six holes at Forest Akers West Golf Course at 10-under par.
During the same stretch of closing holes, Michigan State’s four counting players combined to shoot 5-under par.
“Anna was driven from the minute she stepped on the golf course,” Scott said. “She was in it to win it. After her birdie on the 13th green, she came up to me and said her goal was to finish the final five holes by going two under. It was incredible to see her accomplish that.”
Junior Julia Ford (Shrewsbury, Mass.) played the final six holes the best for UVA, posting an eagle and three birdies during that stretch. She finished the round at 2-under 70 and improved to 17th place at 3-over 219. That was the best finish of her career and her final-round score matched her best 18-hole collegiate effort.
Senior Katharine Patrick (Houston, Texas) shot 73 on Sunday and finished tied for sixth at even par 216. It was the fourth top-10 finish of her career. Sophomore Beth Lillie, who shot 3-under for her final six holes, placed 14th at 2-over 218. She also shot 73 on Sunday. Senior Morgan Gonzales (Chandler, Ariz.) was 37th at 226.
“The team fought until the very last putt dropped today,” Scott said. “I loved the fact that all five players made contributions this weekend and played a part in the victory. It was a total team effort. Seeing Julia Ford shoot (5-under) 31 on her final nine holes was both phenomenal and essential. This tournament was a great reminder to our team of the value of every single shot.”
UVA returns to action Oct. 12-14 at North Carolina’s Tar Heel Invitational.
Mary Fossum Invitational
Forest Akers West Golf Course
East Lansing, Mich.
Par 72, 6,334 yards
Final Results
Team Results
1. Virginia 281-290-286-857
2. Michigan State 291-284-284-859
3. Florida 289-285-288-862
4. Georgia 292-282-293-867
5. Old Dominion 294-283-303-880
6. Miami 289-296-297-882
7. Texas Tech 298-293-297-888
8. Indiana 289-301-302-892
9. Mississippi State 303-297-298-898
10. Mercer 296-303-302-901
11. Sacramento State 293-311-300-904
12. Rutgers 306-299-300-905
12. Toledo 301-295-309-905
14. Northern Illinois 308-312-314-934
15. Kansas State 310-309-323-942
16. Eastern Michigan 320-314-322-956
Individual Leaders
1. Anna Redding, Virginia 69-68-70-207
1. Allyson Geer-Park, Michigan State 68-70-69-207
3. Paz Marfa, Michigan State 73-70-67-210
4. Dewi Weber, Miami 67-74-71-212
Virginia Results
1. Anna Redding 69-68-70-207
6. Katharine Patrick 69-74-73-216
14. Beth Lillie 70-75-73-218
17. Julia Ford 75-74-70-219
37. Morgan Gonzales 73-74-79-226