Oct. 11, 2010
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The sixth-ranked Purdue women's golf team started strong in rounds one and two looking to defend their Lady Northern Invitational Championship. The Boilermakers carded a team-total of 572 (-4) to lead the field of 12 in Glencoe, Ill.
Purdue has accounted for both team and individual titles the past two years at the Lady Northern, which is held each fall at the site of that year's Big Ten Championships. Northwestern is hosting this year's two-day, 54-hole tournament at the Lake Shore Country Club a 6,303-yard, par-72 course.
In 2009, Purdue came from behind in the final round to win by 13 strokes over runners-up Michigan State and Ohio State. If Purdue is to win in 2010, there will not be near as much suspense. The Boilermakers tallied a tournament-best team-total of 280 (-8) in round one. The team then fired a second-round low score of 292 (+4) to bring their two-round total to 572 (-4). The score places the Boilermakers eight strokes in front of second-place Ohio State and 14 strokes ahead of third place Northwestern.
The Boilermakers are coming off their first victory of the season at the Windy City Collegiate Classic, a tournament in which Purdue's depth was on full display. Purdue placed all five golfers in the top 30 including three in the top 10, while Gulyanamitta took home the individual medal with a three-round total of 215.
Although a Purdue golfer is not leading the individual side of the tournament, the Boilermakers are threatening with three golfers inside the top-ten. Sophomore Laura Gonzalez-Escallon leads the way for the Boilermakers carding a two-round total of 140 (-4). Gonzalez sits in third place behind Lauren Weaver of Northwestern and Lindsay Gahm of Indiana who are tied at five-under (139). Senior Thea Hoffmeister fired a team-low five-under 67 in round one and followed with a 76 (+4) in round two. The two-round total of 143 places the Berlin, Germany native in a tie for fifth. Senior Numa Gulyanamitta, Purdue's highest ranked golfer, carded back-to-back even-par rounds of 72. The score of 144 (E) places Gulyanamitta in a tie for seventh. Defending individual medalist, senior Maude-Aimme LeBlanc, fired a two-round total of 147 and sophomore Paula Reto tallied a score of 149.
Purdue golfers will begin their final round at 8:24 a.m. on Tuesday and conclude with their final golfer teeing off at 9:09 a.m.
Live scoring will be available on golfstat.com and daily recaps will be posted to purduesports.com.