AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Augusta State senior Amanda Smith shot an even-par 72 and claimed medalist honors Tuesday in the America’s Choice Mortgage Lady Jaguar Invitational presented by Georgia Pain Specialists, LLC, at Forest Hills Golf Club.

Smith, who began the final round trailing Georgia State’s Joanna Klatten by a single shot, birdied the 347-yard, par-four 15th hole to take a one-shot lead and parred out on the final three holes for her first career victory.

“I’ve never won a tournament in golf, so this is a pretty cool feeling,” said Smith. “I just played real steady on the back nine and didn’t want to give any shots away. I hit another good drive on 15 (just like yesterday when I made eagle). I had 110 (yards) to the pin and just choked down on a pitching wedge and hit a good one in there and knocked the putt in. I knew I was in a good position and that pars were a real good score on the back nine.”

Smith’s victory marks the second straight year a Lady Jaguar has captured medalist honors. Last fall, senior Lauren Smith edged Notre Dame’s Noriko Nakazaki by a single stroke to claim the tournament title.

“I’m very proud of Amanda for hanging in there and playing so solidly,” said Lady Jaguar head coach Laura Coble. “She deserves to enjoy this kind of success with the time and effort she puts into her game. Today is just the tip of the iceberg for her. She just played so awesome the last two days.”

First-round leader Georgia State built as much as a 13-shot lead on the field midway through the final round and was never seriously threatened. The Lady Panthers booked their second straight round of 15-over 303, good for a nine-shot victory over Augusta State.

East Carolina was third, 13 shots off the pace, while Memphis and Florida International rounded out the top five. Arkansas State and Jacksonville State finished sixth and seventh, respectively.

“We did a great job today of focusing on the shot in front of us and not worrying about what kind of lead we had or what anyone else around us was doing,” said Lady Panther head coach Cathy Mant. “This gives us a lot of confidence to know we can play well under the gun on such a wonderful golf course.”

Georgia State’s Klatten was runnerup, finishing a shot behind ASU’s Smith at three-over 147. Memphis’ Dawn-Marie Conaty (74-76) took third alone at six-over 150 and ASU’s Emilie Geury (79-72) tied for fourth with East Carolina’s Lene Krog (78-73) at seven-over 151.

Four Lady Jaguars finished in the top 20. Redshirt freshman Sarah Mooney (75-83) tied for 14th at 158 and junior Kristen Bragg (77-82) tied for 18th at 159. Senior Patti Hogeboom (78-83) and sophomore Anna Lindeborg (83-81) tied for 22nd and 28th, respectively.

The tourney marks the end of ASU’s fall schedule. The Lady Jags open their spring slate Feb. 18-20, 2007 with the Papa John’s Collegiate Championship at Don Shula Golf Club in Miami, Fla.

For complete tournament coverage, visit the Tournament Web site.

America’s Choice Mortgage
Lady Jaguar Invitational
presented by Georgia Pain Specialists, LLC
Forest Hills Golf Club
Augusta, Ga.
Par 72 – 6,094 yards
Nov. 6-7, 2006 

Team Results

1 Georgia State 		303 303 606 +30
2 AUGUSTA STATE 		308 307 615 +39
3 East Carolina 		311 308 619 +43
4 Memphis 			317 310 627 +51
5 Florida International 	325 312 637 +61
6 Arkansas State 		331 313 644 +68
7 Jacksonville State 		321 325 646 +70


Augusta State Results

1   Amanda Smith 		+2  F 74 72 146
T4  Emilie Geury 		+7  F 79 72 151
T18 Kristen Bragg 		+15 F 77 82 159
T22 Patti Hogeboom 		+17 F 78 83 161
T28 Anna Lindeborg 		+20 F 83 81 164
T14 Sarah Mooney ( I ) 		+14 F 75 83 158 

Team With Player Results

1   Georgia State  		303 303 606 (+30)
2   Joanna Klatten 		+3  F 73 74 147
6   Claire Starkie 		+8  F 77 75 152
T9  Pamela Torres 		+12 F 77 79 156
T14 Cathrine Madsen 		+14 F 83 75 158
T14 Karin Dedering 		+14 F 76 82 158 

2   Augusta State 		308 307 615 (+39)
1   Amanda Smith 		+2  F 74 72 146
T4  Emilie Geury 		+7  F 79 72 151
T18 Kristen Bragg 		+15 F 77 82 159
T22 Patti Hogeboom 		+17 F 78 83 161
T28 Anna Lindeborg 		+20 F 83 81 164
T14 Sarah Mooney ( I ) 		+14 F 75 83 158 

3   East Carolina 		311 308 619 (+43)
T4  Lene Krog 			+7  F 78 73 151
7   Abby Bools 			+9  F 78 75 153
8   Ana Maria Puche 		+11 F 75 80 155
T24 Jessica Hauser 		+18 F 82 80 162
T32 Michelle Williams 		+21 F 80 85 165
40  Melanie Granville ( I ) 	+53 F 103 94 197 

4   Memphis 			310 627 (+51)
3   Dawn-Marie Conaty 		+6  F 74 76 150
13  Stacey Tate 		+13 F 84 73 157
T20 Cameron Barber 		+16 F 81 79 160
T24 Rachel Larson 		+18 F 80 82 162
T28 Kathryn O'Rourke 		+20 F 82 82 164 

5   Fla. International 		325 312 637 (+61)
T9  Rebecca Samuelsson 		+12 F 78 78 156
T9  Maria Hernandez 		+12 F 81 75 156
T24 Susan Nam 			+18 F 85 77 162
T34 Therese Wackenstedt 	+22 F 82 84 166
T34 Roberta Neves 		+22 F 84 82 166
38  Mylene Forget ( I ) 	+27 F 87 84 171 

6   Arkansas State 		331 313 644 (+68)
T14 Christine Ryckman 		+14 F 85 73 158
T22 Cassie Huffer 		+17 F 84 77 161
T28 Adrian Sportsman 		+20 F 81 83 164
T32 Courtney Blevins 		+21 F 85 80 165
37  Bekah Gregory 		+23 F 81 86 167
39  Ciara Cunningham ( I ) 	+38 F 85 97 182 

7   Jacksonville State 		321 325 646 (+70)
T18 Manuela Tarazona 		+15 F 81 78 159
T20 Michele Thomson 		+16 F 80 80 160
27  Ashley Cox 			+19 F 81 82 163
T28 Mercedes Huarte 		+20 F 79 85 164
T34 Alexandra Espinosa 		+22 F 81 85 166
T9  Portia Abbott ( I ) 	+12 F 76 80 156