US COLLEGES GOLF - First win in USA for Connie Jaffrey

Connie Jaffrey (left) with team mate Carly Ragains,
who tied for second place

FROM THE KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY WEBSITE

with some additional words by Colin Farquharson

 

COLUMBIA, Missouri - Kansas State University freshman Connie Jaffrey from Kilwinning, Ayrshire has scored her first win on the United States women's college golf circuit after only a few weeks in American.

 

The former Scottish girls champion and beaten finalist at Prestwick in this year's Scottish women's amateur championship was solid down the stretch on Tuesday to capture her first collegiate title with a score of 8-under par 208 (67-73-68) at the Johnie Imes Invitational at The Club at Old Hawthorne, Columbia, Missouri. 

 

As a team, the Wildcats finished second to Missouri University with a school-record low score of 14-under par 850.

 

Jaffrey's first-place finish is the 11th individual victory in Kansas State University golf history and the first since Michelle Regan in 2007

"Connie did a great job this event," K-State head coach Kristi Knight said. "She had one rough hole but bounced back to finish with three pars."

 

Jaffrey held a one-stroke lead until a double bogey on No. 15 put her one shot back. She parred out and saw Missouri's Alina Rogers bogey two of her final three holes to pick up the tournament title. 

 

Jaffrey carded the second lowest 54-hole score in team history, finishing four strokes shy of tying the school record.

 

K-State senior Carly Ragains tied Rogers for second with a career-low score of 6-under par 210.

 

The Wildcats finished the event just four shots back of hosts Missouri, who carded an 18-under 846. 

 

In the Missouri team were former East Lothian women's champion Clara Young, a freshman from North Berwick, and former Scottish Under-21 champion Jess Meek, a second-year student from Carnoustie.

 

Clara scored 72-72-70 for two-under 214 and a share of 11th place in the field of 84 players.

 

 Jess scored 69, 73 and 70 to finish T11 on 215 (78-68-69).

 

K-State shattered the previous school tournament record of 874 at the Edwin Watts Collegiate, Nov. 4-5, 2002. 

 

"I am very proud of this team," Knight said. "They played great. Missouri was just a little better this week."

 

British women's amateur stroke-play champion Meghan MacLaren from Cambridge, a third-year student at Florida International, finished T4 on 212 (69-73-70).

 

Dundee's Katie Reid, a senior at Arkansas-Little Rock, finished T54 on 231 (74-80-77) and Sophie Godley from Notts, a third-year student at Florida International, came 71st in a field of 84 players. She scored 241 with rounds of 79, 81 and 81.

 

LEADING INDIVIDUALS

Par 216 (3x72) Yardage 6,234

208 Connie Jaffrey (Kansas State) 67 73 68 

210 Carly Ragains (Kansas State) 72 67 71, Alina Rogers (Missouri) 69 68 73.

 

SELECTED TOTALS

INDIVIDUALS

212 Meghan MacLaren (Florida International) 69 73 70 (T4)

214 Clara Young (Missouri) 72 72 70 (T8)

215 Jess Meek (Missouri) 78 68 69 (T11)

231 Katie Reid (Arkansas-Little Rock) 74 80 77 (T54)

241 Sophie Godley (Florida International) 79 81 81 (71st).

LEADING TEAMS 

1 Missouri 846 (-18)

2 Kansas State 850 (-14)

T3  Middle Tennessee State, Florida International 862 (-2)

5 Arkansas-Little Rock 874 +10)

Field of 15 teams