Salisbury, N.C.----The Wingate University women’s golf team finished fifth in the 2009 Patsy Rendleman Invitational Tuesday. Newberry survived a second-day charge by Belmont Abbey to claim the title by two shots. Catawba College hosted the event at the 5,983-yard, par-72 Country Club of Salisbury.

Wingate carded a 323 Tuesday, giving the Bulldogs a two-day total of 643. Newberry held a five-shot lead after the opening round, but Belmont Abbey shot a second day low round of 308. Newberry finished at 617, with the BAC Crusaders close behind at 619. Carson-Newman (631), UNC Pembroke (636) and Wingate (643) rounded out the top five.

Bulldog senior Allie Osberg (Chester Springs, Pa.) topped the Wingate charts with her 13th place finish. She shot an 82 Tuesday to complete the event at 157. Her 75 Monday was Wingate’s best round of the tourney.

Wingate juniors Ashley Denton (Wendell, N.C.) and Andrea Velasquez (Anaco, Venezuela) tied for 18th position. The All-SAC performers both concluded the tourney at 160. Denton shot 78 Tuesday, while Velasquez posted a 79.

Bulldog junior Anna Lee Croom (Asheboro, N.C.) recorded an 84 Tuesday. She tied for 31st place at 166. Freshman Megan Levy (Zebulon, N.C.) shot 98 Tuesday, finishing the event in 56th place (188).

Individual medalist Josefine Mensner helped Newberry hold its lead, winning by two shots over Belmont Abbey’s Rita Kim. Mensner had rounds of 73 and 76 to finish at 149. Rounding out the all-tournament team was Newberry’s Barbara Castro (153), Lenoir-Rhyne’s Brenna Martens (153) and Belmont Abbey’s Michele Low (154).

The event concludes the fall season for the 2009 NCAA Division II tournament qualifying team. Wingate will begin the spring season Feb. 6-7, venturing to Kiawah Island, S.C. to participate in the Kiawah/Tusculum Invitational.