Odwin leads Longhorns to top five finish

Barbadian golfer Emily Odwin produced a sensational performance to lead the University f Texas to a fifth-place finish at the PING/SU Invitational at the Papago Golf Club on Sunday.

Odwin, a freshman, also finished fifth overall in the individual standings out of over 100 golfers.

She shot a second straight round of 69, including a final round of three-under-par 69 with no bogeys on her card.

After bogeys on holes 2-4 in her first round on Friday, Odwin had one bogey in her final 0 holes of the tournament. Her fifth-place finish is her best collegiate finish and marks the ninth time this season a Texas player has recorded a top-10 finish.

Head coach Ryan Murphy had nothing but a raise for Odwin.

“I’m proud of the team’s effort today. We got off to a slow start in this tournament but finished strong with one of the better rounds f the day. We will take the positives and work on some specific areas before going back to Phoenix in 10 days.

“Emily had a bit of a breakout tournament with a top-5 in a strong field. The pair of 69s to finish was outstanding and a glimpse of what she is capable of doing in competition. “I’m very proud of her efforts this week!” Murphy said.

Sophie Guo provided a consistent outing for Texas with three rounds of 73 and finished tied for 21st in the tournament. Cindy Hsu provided a spark in round one with a four-under-par 68 and finished tied 30th, while Bentley Cotton had her best outing in the final round with a two-under-par 70.

Texas finished better than seven ranked teams in the field, including five shots better than No. 5 Oregon. The Longhorns finished two back of No. 6 Mississippi State for fourth place and finished four back of third place No. 14 Baylor.

Northwestern, ranked 23rd, won the event, and No. 11 Arizona State finished in second place.

(RB/PR)