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Saturday, January 06, 2007

RACHAEL FROM DUBLIN IS TOP
STIRLING STUDENT IN “DIXIE”

Rachael Cassidy, 19, from Dublin had the highest final placing of the three Stirling University students who survived the halfway cut in the 76th Dixie amateur golf championships at Palm Aire Country Club, Pompano Beach, north of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Rachael had rounds of 77, 78, 79 and 74 for an aggregate of 308 over the par-71 course.
Rachael, a member of The Island Golf Club, did particularly well to return her best score of 74 in strong winds on the final day. Miss Cassidy finished joint 29th behind the winner, Florida teenager Vicky Hurst who scored 71, 71, 77 and 71 for six-over-par 290, which included a hole in one in one of the earlier rounds.
Vicky from Melbourne, Florida won by one shot from long-time leader Mayule Tomimbang (Kissimmee, Florida) who holed a 25ft birdie putt on the last green for a closing 74 and a total of 291.
Eleven-year-old Alexis Thompson from Coral Gables, Florida, the youngest ever player in the tournament’s long history, tied for third place on 293.
Stirling student and former Scottish schoolgirls title-winner Claire-Marie Carlton, a member of Fereneze Golf Club, shot 77, 689, 77 and 79 for 312 and a share of 34th place.
A third Stirling student, Gavin Dear (Murrayshall Golf Club) from Alyth,finished joint 43rd in the men’s championship. Gavin had rounds of 69, 77, 75 and 74 for a total of 295 – 20 shots behind the winner, Mu Hu, from the aptly-named Florida town of Celebration.
Mu Hu, inspired by a practice round last week by former US PGA Tour champion Andy Bean (winner of the 1975 Dixie amateur men’s title), had scores of 68, 66, 70 and 71. He led from start to finish for a three-stroke victory with his nine-under-par total.
The leading European was England international Edward Richardson from East Sussex. He finished joint 14th on 286.

DIXIE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Palm Aire Country Club, Pompano Beach, Florida.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
MEN (Par 284: 4 x 71)
Players from US unless stated
275 Mu Hu 68 66 70 71.
278 Bud Cauley 69 67 69 73.
280 Lion Kim 71 67 69 73, Ji Moon 74 65 69 72, Minghao Wang 68 71 73 68.
281 Greg Huxman 69 66 70 76, Gator Todd 70 66 73 72.
Other totals:
284 Xavier Feyaerts (Belg) 69 73 73 69 (11th).
286 Edward Richardson (Eng) 71 70 71 74 (jt 14th).
295 Gavin Dear (Sco) 69 77 75 74 (jt 43rd).
296 Florian Fritsch (Ger) 74 71 74 77 (jt 46th).
297 Patrick Hanauer (Ger) 75 69 76 77 (jt 49th).
298 Roger Furrer (Switz) 75 72 74 77 (jt 50th).

WOMEN (Par 284: 4 x 71)
Players from US unless stated
290 Vicky Hurst 71 71 77 71.
291 Mayule Tomimbang 67 74 76 74.
293 Alexis Thompson 69 74 75 75, Alina Lee 72 72 74 75.
294 Michelle Shin 74 68 77 75.
296 Jane Rah 73 75 74 74, Cydney Clanton 75 77 72 72, Megan McChrystal 74 72 73 77.
297 Tiffany Chudy 75 73 74 75, Christina Hirano 73 78 68 78.
Other totals:
302 Laura Gonzalez-Escallon (Bel) 78 71 75 78 (jt 18th).
308 Rachael Cassidy (Ire) 77 78 79 74 (jt 29th).
312 Claire-Marie Carlton (Sco) 77 79 77 79 (jt 34th).