Sept. 26, 2010
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The top-ranked Purdue women's golf team recorded a school-record 54-hole score of 845 (279-282-284, -19) at the Mason Rudolph Women's Championship, but it was not enough to capture the team title. The Boilermakers started the final day trailing by one stroke and shot a 284 to finish two strokes behind No. 16 LSU (278-282-283=843).
The Boilermakers bested their lowest three-round team total by seven strokes. The previous low 54-hole tournament score for Purdue was an 852 (279-282-291) at the Indiana Invitational at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Ind., on April 7 and 8, 2008.
No. 3 Southern California (286-287-278=851) and No. 2 UCLA (284-288-279=851) used strong third-round scores to move into a tie for third while No. 12 California (279-284-291=854) slipped to fifth.
California's Pia Halbig did hold on to the individual lead to earn medalist honors with a 13-under par 203 (68-67-68). Wake Forest's Michelle Shin finished second with a 206 and Auburn's Cyndey Clanton was third with a score of 208.
Purdue placed all five golfers in the top 35 of the Mason Rudolph and was the only team to come close to accomplishing such a feat. The Boilermakers were led by senior Maude-Aimee LeBlanc who finished tied for fourth with a 209 (-7). LeBlanc recorded a one-over par 73 on Sunday after recording a 67 in round one and a 69 in the second round.
Senior Numa Gulyanamitta recorded the lowest round of the day for Purdue with a bogey-free, three-under par 69. She tied for ninth with a three-round total of 211 (68-74-69, -5).
Sophomore Laura Gonzalez-Escallon also fired a round below par, with a 70 on Sunday. The La Hulpe, Belgium, native tied for 14th with a total score of 212 (73-69-70, -4). Gonzalez-Escallon recorded a team-best five birdies in the final round, including birdies on three of her final four holes.
Freshman Alex Stewart continues to impress in her rookie campaign. The Peoria, Ariz., native totaled an even-par 216 with rounds of 71, 72 and 73 to finish tied for 26th.
Senior Thea Hoffmeister was just one stroke behind Stewart but tied for 35th with a 217. Hoffmeister put together two rounds of even-par after opening with a one-over 73.
Full results from the Mason Rudolph Championships which was played on the par-72, 6,281-yard Vanderbilt Legends North Course in Franklin, Tenn., are posted above.
The Boilermakers will return to action Oct. 4 and 5 at the Windy City Collegiate Classic in Highland Park, Ill. The tournament is hosted by Big Ten opponent, Northwestern.