Texas Tech Athletics
Columbia Classic
Taylor, No. 25 Red Raiders end Florida trip as runner-ups
February 14, 2022 | Women's Golf
Amy Taylor was in a tie for second place Monday, marking the highest finish of her collegiate career
LUBBOCK, Texas – Amy Taylor recorded her highest finish in her collegiate career Monday to lead No. 25 Texas Tech to a runner-up showing at the Columbia Classic hosted at the Duran Golf Club just outside Orlando, Florida.
Taylor closed the two-day, 54-hole event in a tie for second place after a 1-over-par 73 final round moved her to even for the tournament, two strokes back of medalist Isabella Fierro of Oklahoma State. It was the second top-five finish of the season for Taylor, who wrapped the Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate in a tie for fourth overall in September.
Taylor put together the lowest final round for the Red Raiders as Texas Tech combined to shoot a 13-over 301 to move to 17-over for the tournament. Virginia Tech, which entered the day two back of the Red Raiders in second place, claimed the team title after edging Texas Tech by only a stroke at 16-over for the tournament.
This is the second runner-up finish for the Red Raiders this year as Texas Tech previously opened its season in second place at the Sam Golden Invitational hosted by North Texas. It is the fourth top-five finish in six tournaments already this season for the Red Raiders.
"What an effort this week," head coach JoJo Robertson said. "I can't say enough about the fight our team showed. Today was extremely tough conditions in the cold and wind, and they played well and came up short in the end. We are already looking forward to getting out there again next week."Â
In addition to Taylor, Gala Dumez notched a top-10 finish of her own, closing the event in a tie for eighth after a 4-over 76 final round. Dumez, who was at even-par entering the final round, now has a team-leading three top-10 finishes this season, all of which have come in Texas Tech's last four events.
Libby Fleming signed for a 3-over 75 card for the second-consecutive round to close the tournament in a tie for 27th. Fleming, who was making her collegiate debut this week, drained a needed birdie on her final hole – the par-4 2nd – to widen the gap between the Red Raiders and third place Oklahoma State down the stretch.
Fellow freshmen Chelsea Romas and Chiara Horder rounded out the lineup with 6-over and 5-over scores, respectively, to move into a tie for 15th and 21st place on the individual leaderboard. For Romas, it was her first top-20 finish of her still young career. Cecilie Nielsen was 7-over on her day to close the tournament at 13-over and in a tie for 35th as an individual.
Despite falling only a stroke shy of sharing the team title, the Red Raiders managed to top four schools currently ranked in the top-40 of the Golfweek poll, including No. 2 overall Oklahoma State. The Cowgirls were third overall at 20-over followed by Illinois in fourth at 22-over and Georgia in fifth at 24-over for the tournament.
The Red Raiders continue their spring slate next week when they travel to Houston for the ICON Classic. The two-day tournament begins next Monday morning at the Golf Club of Houston.
The individual runner-up, @_AmyTaylorr??
— Texas Tech Women's Golf (@TexasTechWGolf) February 14, 2022
Amy was +1 today to record her highest career finish! #WinBig | #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/CSG46MIK2W
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