Feb. 15, 2011
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Top-ranked Alabama won the Lady Puerto Rico Classic for the second-consecutive year, while the host Boilermakers finished fourth. Fifth-ranked Purdue shot its lowest round of the tournament on Tuesday, but the 294 was not enough to gain any ground.
Second-place Iowa State was poised to pull an upset, leading briefly on the final day and recording the low third-round total with a 287, but the Crimson Tide finished strong to win by five strokes. Alabama's 875 (286-298-291) was just three strokes over last year's winning score.
Alabama's Stephanie Meadow earned medalist honors, beating Florida State's Maria Salinas by one stroke with a four-under par 212 (73-70-69). Salinas also shot a 69 on Tuesday for a three-round total of 213 (71-73-69, -3). Marta Silva Zamora of Georgia was the only other golfer to finish below par, taking third place with a 214 (76-68-70, -2).
Numa Gulyanamitta was Purdue's top finisher. The senior from Thailand shot an even-par 72, tying for seventh at 220 (75-73-72). Gulyanamitta recorded three birdies and three bogeys to remain even for the day.
Sophomore Paula Reto finished tied for 13th with a three-round score of 224. Reto finished with a 75 courtesy of four bogeys and a birdie. She opened with a 73 and fired a 76 in the second round. The native of South Africa has only been playing golf since moving to the U.S. six years ago.
Freshman Alex Stewart from Elk Grove, Calif., fired a 74 on Tuesday and tied for 23rd with a tournament total of 227 (78-75-74). Sophomore Laura Gonzalez-Escallon finished one stroke behind in a tie for 26th. The La Hulpe, Belgium native carded a 73 in the final round for a total score of 228 (76-79-73). Senior Thea Hoffmeister tied for 37 with a 230 total. She opened and closed with 76s and fired a 78 in the second round.
The ninth-annual Lady Puerto Rico Classic hosted by Purdue was held at the River Course at the Rio Mar Country Club in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico and was set up as a par-72, 6,191-yard venue.
The Boilermakers return to the links February 27 to March 1 at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate hosted by Tulane University in New Orleans. Stay tuned to purduesports.com for all the latest news and updates.