March 1, 2011
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The sixth-ranked Purdue women's golf team recorded the second-lowest team score of the day with a 287 and jumped four spots to finish tied with No. 8 Virginia for fifth at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate Championship in New Orleans, La. In a tightly contested tournament, the Boilermakers finished with an 880 (302-291-287, +16), just 12 strokes behind the leader.
No. 2 Southern California recorded the lowest round of the event with a 282 to move past top-ranked Alabama for the team championship with a three-day total of 868 (297-289-282, +4). The Crimson Tide finished four shots behind with an 872 (295-287-290, +8) for second place. Alabama's Stephanie Meadow won the individual medal with a five-under par 211.
Sophomore Paula Reto paced the Boilermakers in the final round, firing a team-low three-under par 69. The Cape Town, South Africa, native's final-round 69 tied her career-low round and placed her tied for 36th with a 224 (80-75-69, +8).
Classmate Laura Gonzalez-Escallon turned in the top finish for Purdue with a tie for seventh. Gonzalez-Escallon was even par on Tuesday and finished with a three-round total of 215 (75-68-72, -1). Maude-Aimee LeBlanc also fired a 72 in the final round and tied for 22nd with a 220 (72-76-72, +4).
Numa Gulyanamitta recorded the only round over-par for Purdue on the final day with a 74. The senior from Thailand tied for 29th just one stroke behind LeBlanc with a 221 (75-72-74, +5). Only four Boilermakers competed in the event, so their scores counted each round.
The Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate 17 team field included 12 of the nation's top-25 teams and was held at the English Turn Golf and Country Club in New Orleans. Tournament host Tulane tied with No. 5 Duke for third at 879.
Purdue will return to action at the Administaff Lady Jaguar Intercollegiate on March 13 and 14 in Augusta, Ga.