ROME, Ga. -- The Berry women's golf team placed four players on the All-Tournament team as it cruised to a 58-stroke victory at the Southern States Athletic Conference Tournament on Tuesday. The Lady Vikings hosted the 36-hole tournament at the 6,050-yard, par-72 course at Coosa Country Club.

The No. 6-ranked Lady Vikings carded a score of 308-315=623 over the two rounds, to win by 58 strokes over second place Shorter which shot a two-day total of 340-341-=681

"I think that we were confident that we had the potential to win this tournament coming in," said Berry head coach Brian Farrer. "But I don't think that anyone would have expected it to be by this many strokes. It is a good indicator that our team has been playing some of it's best golf over the last half of the season and put it together at this last tournament of the year."

Lee University, which finished third in the four-team tournament with a score of 356-357=713, had the two lowest individual scores of the tournament. Rachel Ingram was the individual winner with a score of 75-73=148. She was four strokes better than her teammate Julie Donnestad who finished with a second-place score of 74-78=152. Reinhardt was the fourth team at the tournament, but with just two players competing, the Lady Eagles did not record a team score.

Callie Bennett led the way for Berry with a two-day score of 77-76=153. She finished third overall, one stroke behind Donnestad.

"I was happy with my score today," said Bennett, who was tied for sixth after day-one. "More than my own play, I was happy with the way we played as a team, posting several scores in the 70's for the entire 36 holes."

Jayne Curtis finished fourth overall with a score of 75-80=155. She was tied for second overall after leading Berry in the opening round of the tournament.

"I was happy with yesterday's round, but obviously I struggled a bit today," said Curtis. "I think that today will actually benefit me greatly, because it reminds me to work on my mental game and focus as we get ready for nationals."

Berry's two senior players, Gwen Wiencek and Elizabeth Gemmill tied for fifth place with scores of 77-82=159 and 82-77=159 respectively. Caysie Holley rounded out the Berry group of five with a score of 79-88=167 to finish eighth in the 17-person tournament.

"It was nice to win a third title," said Wiencek, who has won three SSAC titles at Berry since transferring from Alabama-Birmingham as a sophomore. "I think it will send us to nationals on a high."

This is the fourth straight SSAC Tournament championship for the Lady Vikings. The team had previously won three straight Region XIII titles before the NAIA moved to direct conference qualification this season. During that period the Region XIII Tournament also served as the SSAC Tournament. 

Berry's lone four-year senior Gemmill has  taken part in all of the titles. She has also advanced to the NAIA National Tournament in all four of her seasons with the team.

"It is great to be on a championship-winning team for the last four years," said Gemmill. "Each year that I have been at Berry the team has been in contention for the national championship and has gotten better each year."

The Lady Vikings and Ingram will all advance to the NAIA National Championship. The tournament is hosted at the Meadowbrooks Municipal Golf Course in Rapid City, S.D. on May 12-15.

"Hopefully we can take the momentum from this win, with us to South Dakota," said Farrer.

Team Scores
1. Berry - 308 - 315 = 623
  4 - Jayne Curtis - 75 - 80 =155
  3 - Calliee Bennett - 77 - 76 = 153
  T5 - Elizabeth Gemmill - 82 - 77 = 159
  T5 - Gwen Wiencek - 77 - 82 = 159
  8 - Caysie Holley - 79 - 88 = 167