PALM DESERT, Calif. - The Union University women's golf team finished third in the Augustana Spring Fling played at the Desert Willow Golf Resort, hosted by Augustana University (South Dakota). The two-round event featured seven teams with 46 golfers. 

California native and Union junior Brooklyn Verdugo climbed two spots in the final round to finish seventh overall. She shot +8 in the first round, followed by a +3 in the final round to finish at +11. Only four players in the tournament shot better than Verdugo in the final round. 

Saint Leo's Olivia Deakins, ranked #36 in the national stats, won the event with a +5. She was the only player in the field to post a score below par, -1 in the first round. 

Union's team was in sixth place after the first round of +48. However, a final round of +23 propelled the Lady Bulldogs to the third-place finish. Union's +23 was the third-best score of the final round. Rollins, ranked No. 15, won the event with a +36. Saint Leo, ranked No. 16, finished second at +44. 

Aubrey Payne was in 12th place after round one's +9 and stayed put after a final round +7, finishing 12th. Abigail Fernandez finished 24th (+21), Camille Burnett finished 32nd (+23), and Molly Pierce finished 43rd (+42). 

Up next for Union will be the Cherokee Valley Spring Bash, March 24-25 in Tigerville, S.C. at the Cherokee Valley Country Club. 

-UNION-