Sept. 13, 2009
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The seventh-ranked Purdue women's golf team fired a final round 299 to finish three strokes behind host Michigan State (289-293-293=875) at the Mary Fossum Invitational on Sunday.
The Boilermakers (291-288-299=878) held a three-stroke lead going into the third and final round, but were edged out by the Spartan's final round score of 293. It is the first time in over a year that reigning two-time Big Ten Champions finished behind a conference team in competition.
Indiana (294-293-305=892) placed third, Northwestern (297-294-309=900) was fourth and James Madison (304-298-305=907) earned fifth place.
James Madison's Nicole Sakamoto earned medalist honors after finishing with a two-under par 214 (75-69-70).
Purdue had three players tie for fifth place as individuals with three-round totals of 218. Junior Numa Gulyanamitta was the only Boilermaker to earn even par or better in the final round. She fired a 72 on Sunday to move into a tie for fifth. Freshman Laura Gonzalez Escallon showed great promise in her collegiate debut, also tying for fifth. She and sophomore Kishi Sinha carded 75s in the final round and both totaled 218 for the tournament.
Freshman Paula Reto fired the fourth counting round for Purdue on Sunday with a 77. She tied for 37th with a three-round total of 232.
Junior Thea Hoffmeister finished 21st with a 226 total score. She carded a 79 on Sunday.
The Boilermakers return to action at the Lady Northern Intercollegiate on Sept. 27 and 28 in Madison, Wis. It is Purdue's first and only opportunity to test out the course that will serve as host for the 2010 Big Ten Championships.
For complete Mary Fossum Invitational results, please check out golfstat.com.