Boland, Aggies Rally to Record-Setting Victory at Onion Creek

A&M Broke a 28-Year-Old School Record with Five-Under-Par Second Round

	Ashley Freeman was seven-under over the last two rounds at Onion Creek.

Nov. 3, 2009

Final Results

AUSTIN - No. 16-ranked Texas A&M completed the biggest comeback in school history - overcoming a 21-stroke deficit -- to end its fall season with a victory Tuesday at the Challenge at Onion Creek.

Senior Julia Boland captured the individual title with a four-under total of 67-70-69=206 at Onion Creek Country Club. Teammate Ashley Freeman (74-66-67=207) was the runner-up.

A&M trailed leader San Francisco by 21 shots after Monday's opening round, but made up 13 strokes with a school-record five-under-par 275 in the second round. The old record was four-under set at the 1981 TAIAW State Championship. Freeman and junior Sarah Zwartynski led the way with a pair of four-under 66s.

The Dons still took an eight-stroke lead into Tuesday's final round, but A&M's scoring barrage continued as Freeman closed with a 67 and Boland shot 69. The Aggies were seven-under over the last 36 holes.

"The last two rounds were absolutely amazing," A&M Coach Trelle McCombs said. "Our patience was awesome and we just never gave up. The great thing is that everyone contributed. It was an all-around great tournament and a great way for us to close out the fall schedule."

A&M's one-under 286-275-278=839 total finished three strokes ahead of San Francisco's 842. The 54-hole score tied the school record set at the 2005 McGuire Invitational.

Texas State placed third at 863, followed by Texas (864), Indiana (866), Augusta State (867), Iowa State (867), Texas Tech (869), Wisconsin (870), Nebraska (871), Kentucky (873), Kennesaw State (874), Baylor (875), Arkansas-Little Rock (875), Michigan (877), Washington State (882), Illinois (883), Texas-San Antonio (887), Iowa (888), Missouri (898) and Boise State (907).

Zwartynski (75-66-72=213) tied for 10th, freshman Sarah Beth Davis (72-73-70=215) tied for 18th and freshman Chloe Garner (73-74-76=223) tied for 68th.

Boland's victory was her second in five starts. She shared the A&M "Mo"morial title with Davis in September. Only five other players in school history have won at least twice in a season.

"We knew Julia was close to doing something special," McCombs said. "She always plays with a positive demeanor, not only for herself but for her teammates. She just needed to stay patient and she did."

Freeman, the reigning Big 12 champion, did not place in the top 20 in her first four starts this fall and had only one round below 73. She was seven-under in her final two rounds at Onion Creek, the best back-to-back rounds of her career.

"Ashley was awesome to watch the last two rounds," McCombs said. "She played without fear and that's the Freeman who won the Big 12 last spring. We saw that player return this week."

A&M won two fall tournaments for only the second time in history and for the first time since 1996.

The Aggies are idle until they open their spring schedule at Central District Invitational Feb. 22-23 in Parrish, Fla.

Printer-friendly format

Email this article