The Loop

Victories propel Whitsett, Popov to top honors

__Golf World College Players of the Week

March 19-26

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__[#image: /photos/55ad749aadd713143b425ca9]|||Cory Whitsett head shot.jpeg|||

Cory Whitsett, Alabama

Entering Sunday's final round of the Linger Longer Invitational, it looked as the tournament's defending champion would be relinquishing his crown. The sophomore was in 20th place at the Great Waters course at Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, Ga., five strokes back of the leaders. But a closing 64, tying a school record, put Whitsett into a playoff for medalist honors with Georgia's__Nick Reach__, where he proved victorious after four holes.

Whitsett's final-round rally included a double eagle on the second hole, when he holed out an 8-iron, and a eagle on the 16th, when he holed out another 8-iron.

His performance also helped the Crimson Tide repeat as team champions, the squad shooting a 26-under 838 to defeat SEC rival Georgia by a comfortable 14 strokes.

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__[#image: /photos/55ad749aadd713143b425ca6]|||Sophia Popov head shot.jpeg|||

The sophomore from Germany was the only player to break par in the rain-shortened Battle at Rancho Bernardo (Calif.), claiming medalist honors with a two-under 142 at Rancho Bernardo GC to beat Texas A&M's Patricia Garcia by two strokes. The victory was Popov's first in the 2011-12 season but the fourth of her career, leaving her one shy of the Trojans career victory mark set by Irene Cho.

En route to the individual victory, Popov also played a key role in USC claiming the team title by two strokes over Arizona State. It was the Trojans first victory in the 2011-12 season.