Feb. 14, 2012

RIO GRANDE, P.R. --- Georgia's Marta Silva Zamora captured the sixth individual title of her collegiate career on Tuesday, finishing the Lady Puerto Rico Classic at 3-under, 215 to best a trio including teammate Emilie Burger by two shots.

The No. 11-ranked Bulldogs could not maintain their first- and second-round advantage, however, and slipped to second place behind No. 10 LSU. The Tigers completed the 54-hole event at 864, two shots better than Georgia.

Silva Zamora, reigning National Player of the Year, shot a 1-over 73 on Tuesday and moved within one victory of tying the Georgia record for career wins. Both Vicki Goetze and Shauna Estes captured medalist honors seven times during their careers in Athens.

"Marta was just very solid," head coach Kelley Hester said. "That was kind of what I hoped to see out of her after she after she didn't have a great fall. She didn't have her best stuff today, but she fought it and held it together."

The Bulldogs' other Tuesday counters were a 75 from Burger, a 76 from Rocio Sanchez Lobato and a 77 from Collins Bradshaw. Milena Savich carded a 78. UGA's Amelia Hill, who was competing as an individual, shot 76.

Burger, Emily Tubert of Arkansas and Laura Gonalez tied for second at 1-under 215.

"Second is not where Emilie wanted to be, but I'm still very proud of her," Hester said. "Second is a good start to the spring, and I'm sure she has more very positive results ahead of her."

In addition, Sanchez Lobato tied for 25th at 227, Savich tied for 42nd at 232, Hill tied for 48th at 235 and Bradshaw tied for 63rd at 240.

Georgia closed with a 13-over, 301. Following the Tigers and Bulldogs on the team leaderboard were No. 7 Oklahoma State at 890, Arkansas at 892, Northwestern at 899, Purdue at 901, Texas Tech at 902, No. 20 N.C. State at 911, Iowa State at 914 and Kent State and SMU both at 924.

"I told the team that it's a long spring and we're headed in the right direction," Hester said. "There was a lot of good we can take from this. Maybe finishing second will make us a little hungrier next time. It's been a while since we've been in the hunt like today. Our body language wasn't as good as it could've been at times. We were right in it until the end."

The Bulldogs will return to action two and a half weeks when they compete in the inaugural Darius Rucker Intercollegiate at Long Cove Club in Hilton Head, S.C.

Lady Puerto Rico Classic
Rio Mar River Course
Rio Grande, P.R.
Par 72; 6191 Yards

Tuesday's Final Standings

Team Leaderboard
LSU                                    294-292-298=884
Georgia                                294-291-301=886
Oklahoma State                         300-290-300=890
Arkansas                               297-293-302=892
Northwestern                           306-296-297=899
Purdue                                 310-286-305=901
Texas Tech                             296-298-308=902
N.C. State                             302-296-313=911
Iowa State                             305-309-300=914
Kent State                             305-309-310=924
SMU                                    310-301-313=924
Michigan                               310-309-309=928
TCU                                    305-312-316=933
Nebraska                               309-314-312=935
Penn State                             321-308-315=944

Individual Leaderboard
Marta Silva Zamora, Georgia            74-66-73=213
Emilie Burger, Georgia                 66-74-75=215
Laura Gomez, Purdue                    75-65-75=215
Emily Tubert, Arkansas                 71-70-74=215
Austin Ernst, LSU                      71-72-73=216
Kelsey Vines, Oklahoma State           71-74-73=218
Gabrielle Dominguez, Texas Tech        73-71-75=219
Madeleine Shells, Nebraska             72-76-72=220
Alex Lederhausen, Northwestern         72-76-73=221
Tessa Teachman, LSU                    73-74-74=221

Addditional Georgia Scores
T25. Rocio Sanchez Lobato, Georgia     79-72-76=227
T42. Milena Savich, Georgia            75-79-78=232
T48. Amelia Hill, Georgia              77-82-76=235
T63. Collins Bradshaw, Georgia         81-82-77=240