FROM STAFF REPORTS

University of Montevallo women’s golfer Emily Gibson wrapped up her senior season recently with an appearance at the 2011 NCAA Championships in Allendale, Mich.

Gibson, the 2010 and 2011 Peach Belt Conference Women’s Golfer of the Year, was the first Peach Belt Conference women’s golfer to qualify for the NCAA Championships in conference history. She finished tied for 44th overall after four rounds of play with a 30-over par 318. Gibson’s best round was a 5-over par 77 in round three.

She began the tournament with an 82 in the opening round. She had just one birdie in the round with five bogeys, one double bogey and one quadruple bogey. In round two she had two birdies, four bogeys and two double bogeys. In her best round of the tournament she did not have a single birdie but she cut her bogeys down to just five. The final round saw her have three birdies, six bogeys, a double bogey and a quadruple bogey.

Gibson began the final round with three straight bogeys. She then birdied her fourth hole before bogeying the next three holes. She had an even par on the eighth and then quadruple bogeyed the ninth.  Her final nine holes left her feeling good as she opened the tenth with a double bogey but ended with six-straight pars and then a pair of birdies to close out her college career.

Gibson ends her career as the most decorated women’s golfer in Montevallo history. She is a two-time conference Golfer of the Year as well as a two-time Montevallo female Athlete of the Year. She has helped elevate the Falcons’ women’s golf program to new levels in her time at Montevallo.

Taylor Collins of Nova Southeastern captured the individual title with a 278 10-under par four round score. Nova Southeastern also won the team title by 28 strokes over Rollins College.