May 19, 2008

SAN MARCOS, Calif. --- On the eve of the 2008 NAIA Women's Golf National Championships, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) sophomore Jessica Smith won the Long Drive Contest Monday at Lake San Marcos Country Club.

Smith ripped a drive of 292 yards on her second shot in the three-shot final round, beating sophomore Daniela Vargas of Shorter (Ga.) by 24 yards. Vargas hit a 268-yard drive on her second attempt of the finals.

Carley Ludwig of Cal State San Marcos was third with a drive of 249 yards. Both Katina Ruest of Savannah College of Art & Design (Ga.) and Ashley Nicks of Park (Mo.) failed to put one of their three drives in play, but Ruest finished fourth since she beat Nicks in the preliminary round. Ruest hit a drive of 274 yards in the preliminary round. Nicks tallied a drive of 262 yards.

Player	Best Attempt	Final #1	Final #2	Final #3	Prelim Round
Jessica Smith, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)	292	Out	292	Out	291
Daniela Vargas, Shorter (Ga.)	268	Out	268	262	274
Carley Ludwig, CSU San Marcos	249	Out	249	Out	269
Katina Ruest, SCAD	Out	Out	Out	Out	274
Ashley Nicks, Park (Mo.)	Out	Out	Out	Out	262