BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar erased an early four-shot deficit by the sixth hole and led by as many as five strokes on the back nine but faltered down the stretch in finishing in a tie for second with Sam Houston State at the 2008 Southland Conference Championship at Beaumont Country Club.

Texas State – the leader entering the final round – won the championship for the second time since the league began sponsoring women’s golf. It’s first title came in 2002 in Beaumont. The Bobcats finished with a 54-hole score of 907, three strokes ahead of Lamar and Sam Houston State at 910.

Linn Gustafsson claimed medalist honors with a SLC-record 220. The previous mark of 221 was set by Stephanie Page of Sam Houston last year. Gustafsson’s final-round 77 was good enough to hold off Nicole Forshner of Central Arkansas and Jennifer Heinz of SHSU at 225. Hillary Zeigler of Lamar and Lacy McKinley of McNeese State tied for fourth at 226.

For Lamar, Bonnie Howard and Channing Norton tied for 11th at 229, Linda Persson tied for 13th at 231 and Therese Nilsson tied for 16th with a 233.

The Cardinals overtook the Bobcats by the sixth hole and led from six through 12 before a late charge by Texas State secured the win.