Owings Mill, Md. --- The No. 6-ranked Georgia women's golf team finished fourth in an elite national field competing in the Duramed Fall Preview at Caves Valley Golf Course on Monday. The Bulldogs completed play at 20-over 884, 12 shots off the pace of No. 4 Arizona State.

Fourteen of the top 18 teams in the preseason Golf World/NGCA Coaches Poll were included in the Preview field at Caves Valley, which also will host the 2009 NCAA Championships. The Sun Devils fired a 2-under 286 in the final round to finish at 8-over 872 and earn an eight-shot victory over top-ranked Southern Cal. No. 14 Virginia was third at 883, followed by the Bulldogs at 884, No. 10 Alabama at 886, No. 5 Oklahoma State at 895, No. 9 Auburn at 897, No. 3 Duke at 898, No. 12 Wake Forest at 908, No. 11 Denver at 913, No. 15 Arkansas at 924, No. 18 Texas A&M at 924, No. 7 Purdue at 927, No. 8 Florida at 928 and host Georgetown at 985.

Georgia began the day in first place after playing the first 36 holes at 3-over before finishing with a 17-over effort in the final round.

"We were certainly in a better position at the start of the day and would've liked to have played better," head coach Kelley Hester said. "It's early in the year though, so we'll have to use this as a learning experience. If we finish fourth at the national championships here next spring, I'm sure I'll be more excited."

Mallory Hetzel led Georgia on Monday with a 1-over 73. The Bulldogs also counted a 74 from Krystle Caithness, a 76 from Carolina Andrade and an 82, the score of both Leigh Crosby and Marta Silva.

Overall, Caithness tied for fourth with a career-best tally of even-par 216, five strokes behind medalist Caroline Hedwall of Oklahoma State. Caithness has now recorded five top-10 finishes in Georgia's last seven tournaments dating back to last season.

Hetzel and Andrade also recorded top-20 efforts. Hetzel tied for 17th at 221, and Andrade was 20th at 222, while Silva tied for 26th and Crosby was 58th.

"I was pleased with our individual efforts," Hester said. "It was such a strong field and we had three in the top 20. Krystle continues to play well and so steady. Mallory looked like her old self. She was 4-over for the tournament with nine three-putts. I don't mean that as a negative. I look at it as a positive. She's really close. Carolina finished in the top 20, and Marta had two solid rounds."

The Bulldogs will return to action this weekend when they compete in the College of Charleston's Cougar Classic on Sunday through Tuesday. Georgia has not competed in the Cougar Classic since the fall of 2005 when the Bulldogs finished second and Hetzel placed third individually in her collegiate debut.