US COLLEGE NEWS

Jodi's barrage of birdies earns her

second place in Ptarmigan Classic

GB&I international Jodi Ewart from Catterick, a 21-year-old student at New Mexico University, started her 2009-2010 US college season in promising style by finishing second in a field of 89 players for the Ptarmigan Ram Fall Classic at Ptarmigan Country Club, Fort Collins in Colorado.

Over a par-72 course of 6,250yd, Jodi, pictured above, shot 16 birdies over three rounds - 72, 68 and 68 - for a total of seven-under-par 209. It was the lowest 54-hole aggregate of her stellar career. Four-under-par 68 equalled her lowest-ever tournament round.

Jodi is just starting her fourth and final year at the University of New Mexico, where she is described as arguably the best woman golfer in the university’s history. It's a long time since a British player figured so successfully on the US women's college circuit.

Jodi, who had four birdies in her first round and six in both her second and third rounds, finished three shots behind the winner, Laura Anderson (Louisivlle) who scored 67, 71 and 68 for 10-under 206.

Hannah Burke (Baylor University, Texas) from Hertfordshire made a significant surge up the leaderboard with a final-day 69 for a total of level par 216, which gave her a creditable joint 13th place finish. Hannah's earlier rounds were 72 and 75.

A third English player in the field, Natasha Podmore (San Franciso) came joint 69th on 235 with scores of 82, 74 and 79.

Idaho (859) won the team event from Colorado State (863) with Louisville and New Mexico finishing joint third on 867. Baylor came seventh of 16 with a total of 875.