Sept. 23, 2008

Complete 54-Hole Results in PDF Format

POST FALLS, Idaho - Sage Suffecool shot a final-round 72 to finish seventh overall and help lead Gonzaga University to third place in The Bulldogs and Eagles Invitational women's golf tournament at The Links Golf Club Tuesday.

Suffecool's even-par round over the 6,123-yard layout was the second-best round of the day. Medalist Stephanie Johns of Portland State University had a final-round 2-under-par 70 for a 54-hole score of 225 and a 3-stroke victory over teammate Danielle Ranallo and Western Washington University's Kaitlin Parker. Parker was the first-day leader but shot a final-round 80.

In contrast to Monday's 36 holes, Tuesday's final round was played under blue skies and no wind which led to better scores.

Suffecool's efforts contributed to the Bulldogs final-round 302 following Monday's rounds of 315-313, Tuesday's round knotting PSU for the best round of the tournament. That left the Bulldogs at 930, just three shots behind runner-up Cal Poly and six shots ahead of Eastern Washington University. The Bulldogs were tied for third entering Tuesday's play. PSU captured the team title at 921 for a 6-stroke victory over Cal Poly.

"Sage struggled with her putting last week at Washington State, but she spent a hard week of practice and the dividends really paid off today," Gonzaga head coach Brad Rickel said of the sophomore.

But Suffecool's play wasn't all that caught Rickel's attention.

Sophomore Rachel Sibbitt - who strung together three rounds of 78 - and freshman Jessica Howe (80-79-75) tied for 17th at 234, freshman Stephanie Corey (83-77-79) tied for 29th at 239 and junior Anna Friedhoff (78-85-77) tied for 31st at 240.

"We have three main goals. One is to not have to count a score that's not in the 70's, the second is to show improvement each round and the third is to place in tournaments," Rickel said. "We only had to count one score in the 80's in the three rounds and that was an even 80 today, we showed improvement in all three rounds and we placed in a tournament. I think we're definitely headed in the right direction."

Rickel also pointed out the efforts of Lauren Phillips, playing as an individual in the tournament, who finished tied for 8th at 231 with rounds of 80-75-76.

"Lauren probably played her best rounds of the fall in this tournament," Rickel said. "Her last two days were solid."

The next competition for the Bulldogs will be the Colorado Heather Farr Memorial hosted by the University of Colorado next Monday and Tuesday in Broomfield, Colo., at the Omni Interlocken Golf Course.