Dowdy Leads Tech to Runner-up Finish

Sunday, March 9

Rio Verde, Ariz.

All Day

Texas Tech Athletics

Rio Verde Invitational

Megan Dowdy carded her best round of the tournament with a 71 at the Rio Verde Collegiate Invitational on Sunday.

March 09, 2008 | Women's Golf

March 9, 2008

LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech went back-and-forth on its way to a second-place finish at the Rio Verde Collegiate Invitational in Rio Verde, Ariz., on Sunday. The Lady Raiders led after the first round and dropped to third Saturday, before rebounding with a 296 to finish one stroke ahead of third-place Minnesota.

Megan Dowdy began the day in a 52nd-place tied, but fired a one-under 71 in the final round to finish tied in 21st place. Ulrika van Niekirk, who led the field after the first round, struggled with an 80 Sunday and closed in a tied for tenth. Niekirk was 8-over for the tournament. Stephanie Smith also claimed a top 20 finish with a 10-over 226, finishing in a tied for 14th. Alex Gibson finished tied in 33rd place, while Rosalyn Kim and Robyn Scott tied in 38th and 42nd places, respectively.

Notre Dame won the event by 18 strokes over Texas Tech, carding the top two rounds Saturday and Sunday. The Irish finished with an 875, followed by Tech's 893 and Minnesota's 894. Arkansas-Little Rock (908) and Eastern Michigan (909) were fourth and fifth, while host Western Michigan (916) and Northern Arizona (916) tied in sixth place. Wisconsin (917), Ball State (918) and Illinois State (918) round out the top ten.

Missouri State (924), Toledo (926), Cincinnati (938), Bowling Green State (941), Bradley (945), Southern Illinois (945), Xavier (953) and Ohio (981) complete the field of 18.

The Lady Raiders won't get 24 hours off before teeing off at the UNLV Spring Invitational on Monday in Las Vegas at the Boulder Creek Golf Club (Par 72, 6,204 yards). The three-day event wraps up Wednesday and is a 54-hole format.