Sept. 12, 2006
FORT WORTH --
Catherine Matranga shot a final-round 3-under-par 70 Tuesday to rally from a five-stroke deficit and claim the individual title at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M.
TCU placed fourth out of 17 teams at The Championship Course. The Horned Frogs shot a 3-under 295 on the final day to finish with a 13-over 889. Arizona State took the team title with a 7-under 869, 14 strokes ahead of second-place BYU and UNLV.
Matranga, a senior from Fort Worth (Paschal High School) who began the day in 11th place, is the first TCU women's golfer to take medalist honors since February 2004, when Brooke Tull captured the Central District Invitational.
Matranga defeated the Sun Devils' Anna Nordqvist and South Carolina's Benedicte Toumpsin by one shot for the victory.
"I played pretty solid all day and hit my irons really well to keep me in it," Matranga said. "I was able to make some birdies and a lot of putts. I finished strong with birdies on the last two holes to help give me the win.
"I didn't do anything special. I feel like I've been playing well lately."
Elin Emanuelsson and Camille Blackerby placed in ties for 15th and 18th, respectively, to give TCU three golfers in the top 20.
TCU returns to action Monday when it begins play at the Jeannie McHaney Invitational in Lubbock.
Team Scores
1. Arizona State - 294-281-294--869 (-7)
2. BYU - 298-294-291--883 (+7)
2. UNLV - 291-298-294--883 (+7)
4. TCU - 296-298-295--889 (+13)
5. South Carolina - 295-288-307--890 (+14)
6. New Mexico - 298-298-295--891 (+15)
7. Florida - 302-294-301--897 (+21)
8. Texas A&M - 294-291-314--899 (+23)
9. San Francisco - 303-301-301--905 (+29)
9. New Mexico State - 300-298-307--905 (+29)
11. UNC Wilmington - 307-301-302--910 (+34)
12. UTEP - 291-305-317--913 (+37)
13. San Diego State - 302-309-307-918 (+42)
14. Oregon - 307-304-310--921 (+45)
14. Hawaii - 296-314-311--921 (+45)
16. Texas - 304-314-307--925 (+49)
17. Texas Tech - 312-301-317--930 (+54)
TCU Scores
1. Catherine Matranga - 71-73-70--214 (-5)
T15. Elin Emanuelsson - 74-75-72--221 (+2)
T18. Camille Blackerby - 75-73-74--222 (+3)
T57. Ashley Watkins - 76-77-79--232 (+13)
86. Stacey Bieber - 79-82-82--243 (+24)
