Oct. 20, 2002
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The No. 17 Purdue women's golf team finished fifth at the Mercedes-Benz Women's Collegiate Championships in Knoxville, Tenn. The event was held at the par 72, 5,985-yard Gettysvue Polo, Golf and Country Club.
The Boilermakers fired a final-round 306 and finished 20 strokes back of champion Auburn, which fired a final round 292. Purdue finished the tournament with a three-round total of 919.
Senior All-America candidate Kari Damron led the Boilermakers with a final-round 71. Damron was one of three individuals to fire a sub-par round on Sunday. She totaled 219 and finished in second place overall.
Senior Heather Zielinski carded a 77 on Sunday and totaled a 231 over the three days. She tied for 21st place and was 15 strokes over par.
Junior Beth Hermes tied for 32nd after a three-day total of 234. She fired a final-round 80.
Junior Ella Asbun carded a 78 on Sunday and tied for 40th place after a three-day 237. Senior Heather Suhr tied for 48th after a 81 on Sunday and a three-day total of 239.
The Boilermakers won the 2001 Mercedes-Benz Championships after firing a 902. Damron captured the individual title last season after carding a one-over 217.
The Boilermakers play their final competition of the fall season on Nov. 1 to 3 at the Landfall Tradition in Wilmington, N.C.
Place Individual 1st Rd. 2nd Rd. 3rd Rd. Total
2 Kari Damron 74 74 71 219 +3T21 Heather Zielinski 75 79 77 231 +15T32 Beth Hermes 75 79 80 234 +18T40 Ella Asbun 81 78 78 237 +21T48 Heather Suhr 80 78 81 239 +23
Place Team 1st Rd. 2nd Rd. 3rd Rd. Total1 Auburn 303 304 292 899 +352 Swedish Juniors 300 303 303 906 +423 Florida 313 290 308 911 +474 North Carolina 314 297 301 912 +485 Purdue 304 309 306 919 +556 UNLV 306 299 319 924 +607 Northwestern 308 307 310 925 +618 Michigan State 304 313 313 930 +669 Furman 317 306 309 932 +6810 Tennessee 319 308 308 935 +7111 Kentucky 314 312 311 937 +7312 Penn State 323 317 303 943 +7912 Michigan 329 304 310 943 +7914 Alabama 326 331 324 981 +11714 LSU 327 326 328 981 +117