WGLF SBC tournament Day 3 (18 APR 12)

Individual Results - Final     Team Results - Final

MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. - Led by freshman Rachael Watton's (Edinburgh, Scotland) individual title, the University of Denver women's golf team claimed its ninth-straight Sun Belt Conference crown on Wednesday at the 2012 SBC Championships on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at The Shoals in Muscle Shoals, Ala.

Sophomore Tonje Daffinrud (Tonsberg, Norway) finished fourth and junior Kelly Drack (Melbourne, Fla.) tied for seventh, giving Denver three of the top-10 spots.

Watton, Daffinrud and Drack received All-SBC honors. Watton was also named SBC Freshman of the Year.

"I'm so happy for our team and so proud of how we competed this week," head coach Sammie Chergo said. "Everyone played with a lot of passion for the University of Denver and I really appreciate their effort."

The Pioneers recorded a final-round 291 to finish at eight-over par (288-293-291-872) for the tournament, 17 strokes ahead of second-place Middle Tennessee (889).

Watton outdueled Florida International's Katie Munday in a playoff to earn the individual medal, becoming the first DU player to win the title since Kimberly Kim in 2010. The freshman posted a 71 on Wednesday to finish at one-under par for the tournament (71-73-71-215).

Daffinrud carded a 74 (71-72-74-217) during the final round of play, coming in at one-over par during the three-day, 54-hole event on the 6,264-yard, par-72 Fighting Joe Course. Drack was four-over par for the tournament after a final-round 73 (71-76-73-220).

Senior Anna Christenson (Lincoln, Neb.) placed 14th at 11-over par, finishing with a 79 (76-72-79-227) and fellow senior Sarah Faller (Galway, Ireland) was 13-over par for the tournament, tying for 17th after a final-round 73 (75-81-73-229).

Florida International (895), North Texas (898) and Arkansas-Little Rock (911) rounded out the top-five.

The Crimson and Gold have laid claim to every SBC title since 2004 and now wait to see where they will travel for the NCAA Regional, which takes place Thursday, May 10 through Saturday, May 12.

Follow University of Denver Women's Golf on Facebook and on Twitter @DU_WGolf.

2012 SBC Women's Golf All-Conference Team

-PIONEERS-