Sept. 17, 2000

Box Score

Baylor's women's golf team increased its team lead by four strokes Sunday to win the team title by nine strokes in the season's first tournament, the Wolverine Invitational in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Leading by five strokes after 36 holes Saturday, the Bears shot a 316 Saturday to finish with a 951, nine strokes better than host Michigan's 960. Arkansas-Little Rock, the next highest finisher, finished 30 strokes behind Baylor with a 981.

Sunday's title marked the Bears' first team win since topping the field at the1999 Fall Hatter Classic in DeLand, Fla., last October.

The Bears dominated the individual rankings of the 11-team Wolverine Invite, placing five golfers among the tournament's top 14 finishers.

Sophomore Hanna-Sofia Svenningsson shot a 78 Sunday to finish second overall (80-76-78=234), three strokes behind individual medallist Cortney Reno of Michigan. The runner-up finish is the highest of Svenningsson's young career.

Junior Tara Bateman shot an 80 Sunday to finish third individually at 17-over-par (78-78-80=236). Sophomore Melanie Hagewood carded a five-over-par 78 in the final round and finished in a fourth-place tie (81-80-78=239).

Freshman Michaelyn Morgan and junior Nicole Johnson both placed tied at 12th with a three-round 245. Morgan, in her first collegiate tournament, improved on Saturday's rounds of 83 and 82 with a third-round 80 Sunday. Johnson fired an 83 in the final round after identical rounds of 81 Saturday.

Junior Jennie Persson finished the tournament in a 29th-place tie at 258 after shooting rounds of 89, 85 and 84.

Baylor will continue the fall season Sept. 21 at the Comcast/Dick McGuire Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M.