April 21, 2007
ST. GEORGE, Utah -- The TCU women's golf team rallied from a 6-stroke deficit entering Saturday's final round to win the Mountain West Conference Championship.
The No. 24 Horned Frogs shot a 13-over-par 297 to overtake 15th-ranked BYU for the team title. The Cougars carded a final round 20-over 304 to finish one stroke behind TCU.
The Frogs won their first conference championship since capturing the 2002 Conference USA title. It's the third different league championship won by TCU under 13th-year head coach Angie Ravaioli-Larkin. The Frogs were also the 1998 WAC champions. It's the fourth overall conference title in TCU's women's golf history.
TCU freshman Valentine Derrey and senior Elin Emanuelsson both carded final round 73s to lead the Frogs' come-from-behind victory.
Derrey placed second individually with an 8-over-par 221, one stroke behind medalist and New Mexico freshman Jodi Ewart. Emanuelsson tied for sixth with a 14-over 227.
Catherine Matranga and Camille Blackerby shot a final round 76 and 77, respectively, to give the Frogs four golfers in the top 10. Matranga tied for fourth with a 226 (+13), while Blackerby was 10th. Freshman Megan O'Donnell had a 75 Saturday to finish 16th.
The Mountain West Conference Championship marked TCU's first tournament win since Kansas State's Marilynn Smith/Sunflower Invitational in October 2005. It's the 10th tournament title under Ravaioli-Larkin.
The Frogs will learn their NCAA Regional destination on April 30. TCU will make its 12th consecutive NCAA postseason appearance.
Team Scores
1. TCU - 300-306-297=903
2. BYU - 294-306-304=904
3. New Mexico - 314-304-308=926
4. UNLV - 317-320-311=948
5. Colorado State - 315-312-322=949
6. San Diego State - 324-314-318=956
7. Wyoming - 321-317-319=957
TCU Scores
2. Valentine Derrey - 76-72-73=221
T4. Catherine Matranga - 72-78-76=226
T6. Elin Emanuelsson - 76-78-73=227
10. Camille Blackerby - 76-78-77=231
16. Megan O'Donnell - 79-81-75=235
