May 23, 2008
Albuquerque, N.M. - The sixth-ranked Purdue Boilermakers used a near-record round of 283 to improve from 10th to finish fourth at the 2008 NCAA Women's Golf Championships in Albuquerque, N.M.
For the third day in a row, golfers were pulled off the course due to weather at the par 72, 6,424-yard University of New Mexico Championship Golf Course.
This time the Boilermakers kept their concentration, firing their best round of the tournament, a five-under par 283, to jump up to fourth place. Purdue scored a total of 1188 (298-304-283=1188) for the four-round event.
"After the first two days, we are not going to be unhappy with our finish," head coach Devon Brouse said. "I think anytime you finish in the top-five in the country, you are not doing too badly."
Southern California (284-300-295-289=1168) won the championship, finishing six strokes ahead of second place UCLA (289-295-298-292=1174). Azahara Munoz (69-72-73-73=287) of Arizona State won the individual title with a birdie on hole No. 18 in a sudden-death playoff against UCLA's Tiffany Joh (74-69-72-72-287).
The Boilermakers were led by junior Christel Boeljon who fired a 68 in the final round to finish 12th with a 293. Boeljon ended her round with five consecutive birdies to finish four-under par. The 68 ties her season-low score.
Freshman Maude-Aimee Leblanc recorded a 69 on Friday to finish tied for 15th with a total score of 295 (72-79-75-69=295). The 6-foot-1 freshman had six birdies in the final round.
Freshman Junthima Gulyanamitta fired a 70 in the final round and tied for 28th with a combined score of 299 (79-75-75-70=299). Maria Hernandez had a four-over par 76, tying for 41st with a 301 (74-73-78-76).
Junior Stephanie Oukeo finished with an 80 to tie for 114th with a total of 321 (80-83-78-80).
The Boilermakers finished second at last year's NCAA Championships and for the second consecutive year have taken home a trophy and have placed two golfers in the top 15.
Complete results can be found at GolfStat.com.