Check out some #BoilerNotes on our 17th NCAA Championship appearance! #BoilerUp #NCAAGolf https://t.co/lQJOj9irdE
- Purdue W Golf (@PurdueWGolf) May 10, 2017
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Purdue women's golf team clinched their 17th NCAA Championship Tournament appearance Wednesday, shooting a team score of 40-over, 904, on the Ohio State Golf Club's Scarlet Course at the Columbus Regional to secure fifth place and an automatic bid to the national championships at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois on May 19. Junior Marta Martin wrapped up an outstanding tournament, shooting one-under, 71, Wednesday and finishing one-over par for 54 holes to finish tied for third.
The Boilermakers are one of three Big Ten Conference teams to advance out of Columbus, joining regional host Ohio State and Michigan. Florida, South Carolina and Florida State earned the other three team spots to the NCAA Championships, while Arkansas' Cara Gorlei, Florida International's Camile Serrano and Texas A&M's Maddie Szeryk snagged the three individual qualifiers. Florida's Kelley Grassel and South Carolina's Ana Pelaez shared individual medalist honors, each finishing at even-par, 216, for the tournament.
Martin dropped four birdies in the final round, giving her 11 for the three-day tournament and the top finish by a Boilermaker since Paula Reto's medalist honors in 2013. Senior August Kim placed in the top-20 individually, shooting four-over, 76, Wednesday and finishing eight-over par to tie for 16th. Sophomore Ida Ayu Indira Melati Putri and freshman Micaela Farah turned in their best rounds of the tournament Wednesday, each shooting three-over, 75, over the final 18.
The Boilermakers have nine days off before the start of the NCAA Championships, while tee times and pairings for the opening round will be announced next week. The 24 teams will play 54 holes of stroke play, they will cut the field to the top 15 teams for a final round of stroke play, and then the top eight squads will determine the national team championship in match play.