Virginia junior golfer Calle Nielson shot 3-under 69 during Sunday's final round to finish second at the Tiger/Wave Golf Classic at English Turn Golf and Country Club in New Orleans. Nielson finished the three-day tournament at 2-under 214, one shot behind LSU's Megan McChrystal, who managed a birdie on her final hole to secure the victory. Nielson had three birdies and one bogey during her final round.
Behind Nielson's play, No. 18 Virginia finished fifth in the 23-team field that included 16 teams ranked in the current Golfstat top-50. Auburn, ranked No. 2, won the tournament at 25-over 889. TCU was second at 896, No. 7 Alabama was third at 897, No 20 LSU was fourth at 901 and UVa was fifth at 902. The Cavaliers shot 3-over 291 during the final day, their best round of the tournament.
Nielson's final finish and score were her best this season. It was the 11th top-10 showing during her career and her second highest finish at UVa. Last year she tied for first at the LSU Classic.
Freshman Brittany Altomare was Virginia's next highest finisher in 31st place. She finished at 12-over 228 including a 72 during the final round after opening with scores of 76 and 80. Eleana Collins was 41st overall at 230. She opened the tournament with a career-best 18-hole score of 73 and followed that up with rounds of 83 and 74. Collins' finish was the best in her career.
Nicole Agnello was 53rd overall at 232. She opened and closed with scores of 76 and shot 80 during Saturday's second round that featured high winds that inflated the field's scoring. Whitney Neuhauser placed 101st at 244 and only counted as a scorer during the opening round when she shot 74. Lauren Greenlief, playing as a non-scoring individual, was 110th at 247.
The Cavaliers are next in action March 26-28 at Georgia's Liz Murphey Classic.