Mixed results at NCAA golf for Lady Vols

Ginny Brown and the Tennessee Lady Vols finished in nearly the same place at the NCAA women's golf championship.

Brown shot a 2-over-par 74 in the final round Friday at the Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Md., and finished tied for 16th in the individual standings at 10-over 298.

The Lady Vols, meanwhile, shot 23-over 311 and finished 17th at 85-over 1237.

Arizona State shot 291 and held off Pac-10 rivals UCLA and Southern California for the national championship with 1182 score.

Purdue's Maria Hernandez was medalist at 289.

Brown finished the tournament with a 30-foot birdie putt on her final hole.

"It goes back to working on finishing,'' said Brown, a junior. "I found a way to focus on the last hole and I think I got a little lucky.

"I'm happy about my finish today. This was a really good tournament for me. Looking back on where I was last year at this point, I've come a long way and it feels good."

Brown became the 10th Lady Vol to finish in the top 25 at an NCAA championship.

As for the team's finish, UT coach Judi Pavon said: "We know we could've place higher and every shot here and there makes a difference. ... Without having five solid scores out there it was hard to get anything going."

UT's Nathalie Mansson (76) tied for 48th at 305. Nicole Smith (83) tied for 96th at 316. Diana Cantu (78) was 102nd at 318 and Lauren Spurlock (84), who did not figure in the scoring, was 124th at 336.