CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Jacksonville State sophomore
Paula Perez Cubinas notched her first career Top 10 finish on Tuesday to lead the Gamecocks women's golf team at the F&M Bank APSU Intercollegiate.
Perez Cubinas carded a 54-hole score of 233 on the par-72, 6,038-yard Clarksville Country Club to tie for seventh in the 59-player field, leading the Gamecocks to a fifth-place finish in a field of 10 teams.
"I'm so excited for Paula earning her first career top-10 finish and proud of her performance this week," head coach
Robbie Fields said. "She's been working really hard to improve and it's really encouraging to see that hard work paying off."
A native of Girona, Spain, Perez Cubinas turned in her best round of the two-day tournament in Tuesday's final round. She signed for a 4-over 76 to close out her 54 holes and climbed into the Top 10 by playing her final six holes at 1-under par.
The Gamecocks shot a final-round 323 on Tuesday after turning in rounds of 315 and 319 on Monday, to cap their 54-hole score of 957. Belmont won the team title, while the Bruins' Delia Gibbs captured medalist honors.
"This week was another learning experience for our team," Fields added. "The golf course presented a lot of challenges; some we faced well and others we can be much better facing as we move forward. I've got to do a better job preparing these ladies to "handle hard better" which is going to be a point of emphasis as we enter an extend break between competitions. This group continues to make me proud and I grow more and more excited about coaching them each day."
Perez Cubinas played Clarksville Country Club's par-four holes at seven over, second-best in the field, while her 1-over play on the par-five holes was tied with teammate
Claire Vermette for fourth in the field.
"In this tournament, the key was accept bogeys and know that pars were great, be mentally strong and fight until the end," Perez Cubinas said. "It's exciting to see that the things I'm working on are showing up. I want to thank Coach for the help so far on and off the course. I'm happy with this week and look to continue improving!"
Vermette tied for 16
th in the tournament, carding a 54-hole score of 238 that was built by rounds of 76-81-81. The St. Petersburg, Fla., native signed for 31 pars in 54 holes, one behind Perez Cubinas, who was fifth in the field.
Freshman
Luciana Calbimonte tied for 24
th for the Gamecocks after shooting rounds of 75-82-84 to make a total of 241. She opened the 54-hole event with a 3-over round that put her in contention before Monday's afternoon round.
Redshirt freshman
Aaron Whitley finished 33
rd with a 248, thanks to rounds of 89-77-82, while freshman
Anna Ymbern Quinoa tied for 40
th with a 254 (86-83-85).
The Gamecocks' next tournament will be The Southern, hosted by Georgia Southern at the Savannah Golf Club in Savannah, Ga., from Oct. 17-19.
