DU junior Jenny Schneider

DU sophomore charges back to win six-hole playoff, pace team to record round

For release: Upon receipt

(Courtesy of Drury Sports Information Office ... Contact SID Scott Puryear at 417-873-4097 for more details)

September 26, 2005

Drury University sophomore Tonya Choate fired an even-par 72 to climb back into the hunt, then won a six-hole playoff in also leading the Panthers to the team title of the Drury Invitational Tuesday afternoon at Rivercut Golf Course.

Choate, who trailed teammates/first-round leaders Shannon Bost and Jenny Schneider by four shots after Monday's opening round, started with a pair of bogeys Tuesday before playing the final 16 holes at 2-under par to force the playoff.

Choate joined Schneider (who had a 76 Tuesday) and Central Oklahoma's Ashley Kelley (72) in the sudden-death format after all finished with 5-over-par 149 totals, with Schneider falling out with a bogey on the third hole. Choate then rolled in a 10-foot putt for birdie on the par-3 6th hole to win her second consecutive individual title this fall.

Drury coach Lisa Tinkler praised Choate's grit for not just coming from behind, but then surviving the lengthy playoff.

"What's also very exciting and encouraging is seeing her teammates wanting to take that (No. 1) spot from her," Tinkler said. "That's what it takes to win a national championship."

Bost (78 on Tuesday) finished fourth at 151, while Lisa Dugan was sixth and Angela Birdwell ninth for the Panthers.

Drury shot a round of school-record round of 308 Tuesday to finish with a 610 total, 28 shots better than runner-up Central Oklahoma. West Texas A & M was third at 679 in the eight-team field.

"Going into our conference tournament this weekend, this is a fantastic confidence builder," Tinkler said.

The Panthers will participate Saturday and Sunday in their first-ever Great Lakes Valley Conference championship, with 18 holes to be played each day at Tibergate Golf Course in Edinburg, Ind.

FINAL RESULTS

DRURY UNIVERSITY INVITATIONAL

Team scores

Drury 302-308 610

Central Oklahoma 317-321 638

West Texas A & M 341-338 679

Arkansas Tech 354-327 681

William Woods 346-349 695

Rockhurst 366-345 711

Henderson State 430-389 819

Dallas Baptist 421-455 876

DRURY RESULTS

Tonya Choate 77-72 149

Jenny Schneider 73-76 149

Shannon Bost 73-78 151

Lisa Dugan 79-83 162

Angela Birdwell 82-82 164

OTHER DU INDIVIDUAL SCORES

Leah Eaton 86-83 169

Amy Harris 85-89 174

Jenna Wixson 83-93 176

Lauren Burmeister 88-94 182

Brittany Holt 95-98 193

Amanda Pierce 99-WD

Complete Tournament Results