NEW ORLEANS (SMU) - SMU capped off its most-complete tournament performance of the season on Tuesday, grabbing a top-five finish at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate.
The Mustangs finished fifth in a field of 17 teams that included 10 in the Golfstat top-50. SMU finished logged the best finish of the four American Athletic Conference teams competing. The fifth-place finish was ahead of six teams ranked in the top-40, while all four teams ahead of the Mustangs were ranked in the top-35.
"It was great team effort," head coach Jeanne Sutherland said. "They've been showing us this all year, but it's not been for all three rounds. I feel like every tournament we've played at, we could play with anyone for two rounds. It was nice to see it all three rounds this time."
Junior Brigitte Dunne led the way for the Mustangs with an 11th-place finish at 6-over by improving on her score in each round (76-74-72—222). Dunne shot a combined 2-over in the past two rounds to move from 46th after round to one just outside of the top-10 for the tournament.
The Mustangs placed three in the top-25 individually, with sophomore Faith Summers finishing in a tie for 17th (72-78-73—223) and freshman Kennedy Pedigo finishing in a tie for 22nd (75-72-78—225). For Summers, the performance led to her second top-20 finish this season, while Pedigo's finish was the best of her young Mustang career.
All five of the Mustangs competing finished in the top-50 of the 90-golfer field and provided at least two scores towards the team's final total.
"I'm proud of all five of them," Sutherland said. "It was nice to see our short game look good. The two things we said we wanted to get better at from the fall were focus and short game. It's nice to see our areas of focus pay off with better finishes."
Florida took home the team title at a combined 9-over, led by Sierra Brooks finishing as the top individual at 7-under.
The Mustangs will look to keep the momentum rolling with a short turnaround, traveling to Houston for The Dickson on Monday, February 26.
Mustang Golfers:
T11. Brigitte Dunne +6, 76-74-72—222
T17. Faith Summers +7, 72-78-73—223
T22. Kennedy Pedigo +9, 75-72-78—225
T50. Kenzie Wright +15, 73-82-76—231
T50. Ana Paula Ramirez +15, 77-78-76—231
