Oct. 7, 2008
SKOKIE, Ill. - The 12th-ranked Purdue women's golf team won its first tournament of the 2008-09 season with a first place finish at the Windy City Collegiate Championships after firing a three-round total 891 (+27).
Sophomore Junthima Gulyanamitta ended the final round with the top score for the third straight day to take home the individual crown with a four-under par 212.
Led by Gulyanamitta and senior Maria Hernandez's combined eight-under par second round, Purdue entered Tuesday's final round in first place with an eight-stroke lead. By days end, the Boilermakers managed to extend their lead by one after turning in a 12-over par 300 in their final round. Purdue ended the tournament nine strokes ahead of second place TCU (900, +36).
Purdue's leading lady Gulyanamitta began Tuesday with a six-under-par 138 and played strong for the third consecutive round shooting a two-over-par 74. Gulyanamitta's three-round total 212 (-4) landed her in first place, the highest finish by any Boilermaker this season.
Nine strokes behind Gulyanamitta was teammate Maria Hernandez who finished the 54-hole event in a tie for fourth. Hernandez struggled in her opening round shooting a five-over-par 77 but managed to climb back to even with an explosive 67 (-5) in her second round. She ended the tournament with a total 221 (+5) after carding a 77 in her final round.
Making one of the strongest comebacks this week was freshman Vaishavi Sinha, who ended the tournament in 17th place with a 226 (+10). Sinha began Tuesday's play tied for 31st but jumped 14 spots after shooting a third-round-tournament-best 71 (-1).
Senior Carolyn Mess finished in a tie for 33rd shooting a 232 (+16, 79,75,78).
Behind first place Purdue (891) are TCU (900), Michigan (902), Arizona (904), Oklahoma (909), Texas (917), East Carolina (917), Iowa State (919), Illinois (920), Northwestern (925), UNC Wilmington (932), Texas State (935) and UNLV (947).
Purdue's final event this fall will be held Oct. 18-19 when it hosts the Lady Northern Classic at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex, Kampen Course in West Lafayette, Ind.