ETSU sophomore Nina Muehl fired even par 72 for the second time in three rounds, moving up three spots to tie for 11th on the individual leaderboard following third and final round action Tuesday in the Golfweek Conference Challenge at the Primm Valley Resort’s Desert Course.Muehl, who opened the Challenge finishing in fourth place after posting an even par 72, posted another strong finish to help the Lady Bucs take the tie. Muehl is hoping to build on her successful spring season, when she was honored by being awarded the third spot on the 2008-2009 All-Atlantic Sun Tournament Team.

Muehl’s efforts led the ETSU women’s golf to a solid ninth place finish in a competitive 18-team field comprised of conference champions from the 2008 season.

Meanwhile, Pepperdine took the team title by one stroke over California. UT-Chattanooga fell one stroke behind California for third place, while Ohio State and UC Irvine rounded out the top five.

Individually, Muehl finished 14 strokes off the pace set by Oklahoma State’s Caroline Hedwall, who led wire-to-wire to take home the championship by five strokes over Pepperdine’s Joy Trotter. Hedwall finished the challenge going 9-under 207, while UC Irvine’s Joy Trotter finished five strokes behind at 212.

Along with Muehl’s 72, the Bucs got a trio of 78s from Laura Jansone, Sinead O’Sullivan, and Mayte Vizcarrondo on the final day of play.

Jansone finished the event tied for 36th, while Vizcarrondo placed tied for 46th.

The Bucs will return home Wednesday, but will make the quick turnaround and begin play Friday in the Paladin Invitational in Greenville, S.C.

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