Columbus, Ga.----The Wingate University women’s golf team finished 10th in the second annual Cougar Collegiate Classic, hosted by Columbus State University at the Country Club of Columbus (par 72, 5821 yards). Twelve teams and 62 student-athletes participated in this year’s event.

The Bulldogs recorded a 344 Tuesday to complete the two-day, 36-hole event at 690. Wingate freshman Lucia Careaga Herrera (Madrid, Spain) shaved nine strokes off her Monday score, as she posted an 82 Tuesday. Careaga Herrera finished in 38th place with a two-day total of 173.

Wingate’s top finisher was sophomore Samantha Pugh-Gilder (Pinehurst, N.C.), tied for 33rd place at 171. Pugh-Gilder had an 85 Tuesday after carding an 86 Monday. Four shots separated Wingate’s top four players, as freshman Karli Soracco (Turner, Maine) and sophomore Morgan Pegram (Pfafftown, N.C.) recorded two-day totals of 174 and 175, respectively.

Soracco had an 88 Tuesday to go with an 86 Monday. Pegram recorded an 89 Tuesday, following an 86 Monday. Wingate sophomore Kathryn Rand (Hampstead, N.C.) completed the two-day event with a 179 score. Rand had a 91 Tuesday, following an 88 Monday.

NCAA Division II number 14 UNC Pembroke led wire-to-wire, grabbing the team title with a score of 629. The Braves shot a 314 Tuesday. Lander finished second (635), while NAIA member Shorter (Ga.) claimed third (639). Columbus State senior Nikki Crowley (Phenix City,
Ala.) earned medalist honors with a two-day total of 148. She shot a 75 Tuesday to go with her 73 from Monday.

Wingate returns to the links March 12-13, participating in the Dana Rader Intercollegiate at Charlotte’s Ballantyne Resort.

10 Wingate University        346 344 690
T 33 Samantha Pugh-Gilder    86 85 171
38 Lucia Careaga Herrera     91 82 173
T 39 Karli Soracco           86 88 174
T 42 Morgan Pegram           86 89 175
53 Kathryn Rand              88 91 179