Stony Brook’s Mary O’Connor won the women’s 1,500 meters at the Monmouth University Season Opener in West Long Branch, N.J. on Saturday. She ran the distance in 4:38.03. Stony Brook’s Lorraine McCarthy, a junior from Waterford, took second place in the women’s 5,000 meters at the Monmouth meet. Her time of 17:24.97 was eclipsed only by teammate Annie Keown, who came in at 17:22.45.
Western Kentucky’s Michelle Finn ran to a pair of top-10 finishes at the Black & Gold Invitational in Nashville, Tenn. The junior from Cork got third place in the 2,000-meter steeplechase, which she ran in 7:00.39 behind a winning 6:37.78 posted by Mary Goldkamp, running unaffiliated, and she finished sixth in the 1,500 meters. She ran the latter race in 4:35.39, which was trumped by Vanderbilt’s Kristen Findley in 4:23.63. Teammate Anna Reddin, a freshman from Sligo placed 12th in the steeplechase, with a 7:25.03 clocking.
WOMEN’S GOLF
Alabama’s Stephanie Meadow tied for fourth place in the SunTrust Gator Invitational at the University of Florida’s Mark Bostick Course in Gainesville, Fla. Meadow, a sophomore from Jordanstown, Co. Antrim, shot even-par 210 (71-71-68) to finish four strokes in back of Florida State’s Maria Salinas, the medalist. Meadow, who had the lowest score among the Crimson Tide golfers, led Alabama to a second-place finish in the team standings, one stroke behind the victorious host school.
Denver’s Sarah Faller finished joint-35th in a field of 90 golfers at the Battle at Rancho Bernardo in Rancho Bernardo, Calif. The Galway senior had the lowest score among her teammates, shooting 10-over-par 154 (76-78). Southern California’s Sophia Popov shot 142 to take individual honors. Denver stood 12th in the 16-team field.
UAB’s Holly Robinson finished joint-73rd among 103 rivals in the University of Cincinnati’s Spring Invitational at Plantation Golf Course in Crystal River, Fla. Robinson, a freshman from Sligo, shot rounds of 87, 83 and 77. That was third best among the five golfers representing Graeme McDowell’s alma mater. Florida International’s Shelby Coyle shot 213 for medal honors, while leading her squad to the team title. UAB placed 14th of 19 teams.
MEN’S GOLF
North Florida’s Kevin Phelan took sole possession of 12th place, while UAB’s Paul Dunne worked out a joint-16th-place finish in the Chris Schenkel Invitational at Forest Heights Country Club in Statesboro, Ga. Phelan, a Waterford junior shot 5-under-par 211 (69-71-71), while Dunne, a Dublin freshman finished the event, named after the late ABC sportscaster, three strokes under par at 213 (70-69-74). Virginia’s Ben Kohles shot 198 for medal honors. UAB took fifth place in the 14-team scramble, 38 strokes behind victorious Alabama, while North Florida placed seventh.
Carson-Newman’s Liam Ashby tied for 19th place in the Bobcat Intercollegiate at the Golf Club at Cuscowilla in Eatonton, Ga. The senior from Dublin finished the 54-hole event three strokes over par at 213 (69-72-72). The 202 posted by Lynn’s Daniel Young stood up as low individual score. Carson-Newman finished 13th of 17 teams, with Barry leading the pack.
Seton Hall’s Gary Dunne finished joint-33rd in the Rio Pinar Invitational at Rio Pinar Country Club in Orlando, Fla. Dunne, a sophomore from Co. Wicklow, shot 5-over-par 221 (75-72-74), which left a gap of 14 strokes between him and medalist Jack Hernandez of Florida Gulf Coast. Seton Hall finished 10th among 15 teams.
TENNIS
Arizona’s Susan McRann split her matches at fifth singles last weekend, while winning both doubles matches with teammate Kim Stubbe. McRann, a sophomore from Dublin, lost, 6-2, 6-3, to Washington’s Julija Lukac on Friday, after she and Stubbe posted an 8-5 doubles victory over Capucine Gregoire and Adrijana Paulovic. Arizona won this match, 4-3, and then came back with a 6-1 triumph over Oregon. McRann needed three sets to dispose of Pacsale Neubert, 6-4, 2-6, 10-6. Earlier, she and Stubbe handled Neubert and Rabea Stueckemann, 8-1.
