February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By John Manley
Gr’me McDowell of Alabama-Birmingham may be only a freshman, but the Portrush, Co. Antrim, golfer is playing like a seasoned veteran. He recently finished in a tie for seventh place at the Alabama Spring Invitational at Lagoon Park in Montgomery. McDowell shot 214 (71-71-72) for 54 holes, nine strokes behind the medalist, Auburn’s Roland Thatcher. UAB senior Chris Devlin, a senior from Ballymena, was off his game. He tied for 69th place,
shooting 231 (81-72-78). UAB finished fourth among teams, seven strokes behind Auburn.
Tennis
Indiana’s George McGill was a 7-5, 6-4 winner at fourth singles over Illinois’ Jamal Parker. The senior from Castletroy, Co. Limerick, was less fortunate at second doubles, where he and Milan Rakvica lost to Cary Franklin and Graydon Oliver, 8-6. The Illini won the match, 5-2.
Laura McCracken led Seton Hall to a 6-2 victory over Lafayette, registering victories at both first singles and first doubles. The senior from Greystones, Co. Wicklow, defeated Shannon Rowe, 6-0, 6-2, and joined Kyli Lasalle to beat Derry Gushen and Katie Todd, 8-3. Teammate Judy McAuley gave it her all but succumbed in a match at fifth singles to Lily Fardshisheh, 7-5, 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-3). The Hall then downed Rutgers, 5-4, with McAuley tasting victory twice. The senior from Loughlinstown, Co. Dublin, defeated Amanda Travlos, 6-4, 6-3, at fifth singles and teamed with Pille Arike for an 8-4 triumph over Jennifer Hellier and Carissa Sommerlad at second
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doubles. McCracken fell to Karla Porter, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 at second singles, and at first doubles with Lasalle to Porter and Donna Krouzman, 9-8(5).
California’s Claire Curran was a two-time winner in the Golden Bears’ 7-2 defeat of San Diego State. The Dublin senior took Lindsey Hedberg, 6-1, 6-4, at fourth singles and was an 8-1 winner with Amy Jensen at second doubles over Lisa Papi and Katja Karrento.
Eimear Sloan and Carole Soubis took care of business at first doubles, downing Kate Illarionova and Andrea Piski, 8-5, to lead Mississippi State to a 7-2 victory over Auburn. Sloan is a senior from Dublin.