JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. – Paced by Bernice Leonard, the Southwestern University women's golf team proved it belongs with the top teams in NCAA Division III after a start-to-finish sixth place finish Sunday at the Jekyll Island Women's Collegiate.

As a team the Pirates finished on spot behind the winner of 12 of the last 13 national championships, Methodist and two spots behind last year's national champion, Mary Hardin-Baylor, who finished fourth. Claremont Mudd Scripps took home the team title as UT-Tyler finished second.

UT-Tyler was paced by Laura Lindsey who claimed the individual title with help from a tournament record 68 during the second round Saturday.

Leonard improved each day as she rallied from a first round 85 to finish with a 79 and 78 on day two and three. The sophomore found her stroke on Sunday with three birdies on the front nine carrying an even par score at the turn. Despite a double bogey on the back nine, Leonard led the Pirates with a 21st finish to keep Southwestern in the top 10.

Lauren Boone and Alexis Gonzalez gave Southwestern three golfers in the top 30 as Boone finished tied for 23rd and Gonzalez tied for 28th. After consecutive rounds shooting +10, Boone posted a 79 to tie for the lowest round of the tournament for the Pirates.

Keeley Coburn rounded out the Pirate scorecards as she finished tied for 34th for the tournament. Coburn carded rounds of 83-81-83 to finish at 247 and was just one stroke behind Gonzalez who tallied scores of 80-86-80 for a total 246.

As a team Southwestern edged SCAC rival Trinity by three strokes with a team total of 970 as the Tigers posted a 973. Team Champion and 15th-ranked Claremont Mudd Scripps posted a 943 with second place UT-Tyler earning a score of 946.

The Pirates take three weeks off before returning to competition on their home course for a NCAA West Region Showdown April 7 and 8.