Prieto wins ACC tourney

By Jon Giokas

Old Gold & Black Reporter

Freshman Marta Prieto fired a three-day total of five-over par 221 to capture one of the biggest prizes in women's collegiate golf, as she won the individual championship at last weeekend's ACC Tournament at Grandover Golf Course in Greensboro.

Prieto's outstanding performance led the Demon Deacons to a second-place finish as a team, tailing only rival Duke University. Duke finished with a total of 903, 14 shots ahead of the Demon Deacons. Florida State finished third and UNC fourth in the four-team event.

Prieto put together rounds of 72, 76 and 73 to lead the tournament from wire-to-wire and became only the fourth player in school history to win the ACC individual championship. In doing so, she turned around her entire season, which had been somewhat disappointing to her.

"I have been struggling this whole year. I just wanted to play better," Prieto said. "I know I can play well. I just haven't played well since I got to America."

The freshman from Sevilla, Spain, grabbed the lead with an even-par 72 on the first day and never relinquished it. To win the championship though, she had to hold off a fierce challenge from Duke's Jenny Chausiriporn, who was widely considered to be the best player in the conference this spring.

Prieto began the final round three shots of Chausiriporn. After a birdie by Chausiriporn and a Prieto bogey on the 15th hole, the lead was cut to one. Chausiriporn went on to bogey the 16th hole, however, and Prieto held her ground over the final two holes to take the title.

Deacon senior Alexandra Armas closed off a brilliant college career with a total of 227 to finish in fourth place. Kristen Wagner, who tied for ninth place, was the third Deacon in the top ten, and teammates Kelly Kirwin and Kerri Murphy finished in 15th and 19th place, respectively.

Armas and Prieto were both named All-ACC.

The Demon Deacons led the team portion of the tournament after the first round, as they stood five shots ahead of Duke with a score of 300. The Blue Devils took control of the tournament in the second round, as the Deacons faltered with a team score of 313. In the fatal second round, Armas and Prieto tied for the lowest individual score with a 76.

Coach Dianne Dailey was very pleased with her team's performance. "We played a lot better than we have all spring. We had a 300 in the first round, and that's the best round we've had all spring." said Dailey. "We had a lot more consistency than we have in the past."

Dailey refused to blame the Deacons' rough second round on the weather which was played on the same day the first round was completed, which was postponed because of rain.

"I just think we didn't play quite as sharply as we did the first day. The putts just weren't falling."

From here, the Deacs will move to the NCAA Regional tournament and, if they qualify, the NCAA Championships in May.

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