Lamar sports information
MOBILE, Ala. – Eva Martinez-Calavia’s debut as a Lamar Cardinal was one to remember, as she earned medalist honors at the USA Intercollegiate that concluded on Monday.

Martinez-Calavia, a sophomore who transferred to LU after Armstrong State (Georgia) dropped its athletic program, fired a 3-under-par 69 Monday to finish at 9-under 207 for 54 holes, five strokes ahead of Western Kentucky’s Mary Joiner, who finished at 212.

As a team, the Cardinals finished second to Tulane in the 13-team field. The Green Wave shot 9-under 279 to finish the three-day event at 7-under-par 857. LU, which led going into the final round, shot 294 as a squad on Monday for a three-day total of 867. The host South Alabama Jaguars tied UAB for third at 877.

“This was a great first showing for us,” LU coach Jessica Steward said. “We were able to identify some areas for improvement while still scoring well and earning a solid finish. Tulane is a great program, so to compete with them for three rounds is an honor.”

Martinez-Calavia got off to a slow start Monday, bogeying the first two holes. She was 2-over-par at the turn before registering five birdies on the back nine to win going away.

“This is the first win of many for Eva,” Steward said. “She learned a lot about herself, and I think she gained a lot of confidence. I’m excited to see what the next three seasons will bring for her.”

LU sophomore Elodie Chapelet, last season’s Southland Conference women’s golfer of the year and freshman of the year, tied for fifth at 2-under-par 214 after carding an even-par 72 on the 6,002-yard layout at the Magnolia Grove Crossings Golf Course. Chapelet, who had four first-place finishes last season, has finished in the top five in all 10 of her collegiate events. Chapelet had two birdies and two bogeys on the front nine before recording a par on every hole on the back nine.

“It’s easy to overlook Elodie’s performance this weekend, but she did well,” Steward said. “Shooting 2-under-par for the event is great. She was very consistent in her scores as well as mentally.”

LU senior Olivia Le Roux tied for ninth at 1-over-par 217 after shooting a 75 on Monday. Senior Felicia Sauceda tied for 37th in the 74-player field at 229 after a final-round 78. Junior Ashlyn Hendricks, a transfer from McLennan Community College, finished 71st in her LU debut with a three-round total of 249.

The Cardinals were one of three Southland Conference teams in the field. McNeese finished seventh at 890, while Texas A&M-Corpus Christi was ninth at 918.

The Cardinals return to action when they travel to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to compete at the Mark Allen ORU Shootout next Monday and Tuesday.