University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Women Open at Wolverine Invitational
9/10/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
WOLVERINE INVITATIONAL: Minnesota kicks off the 2008-09 golf season this weekend at the Wolverine Invitational in Ann Arbor, Mich. The invitational, hosted by the University of Michigan women’s golf team, will be played at the 6,098 yard par 71 University of Michigan golf course. The players will play 36 holes on Saturday, Sept. 13 and finish with 18 holes on Sunday, Sept. 14.
The tournament field includes Bucknell, Detroit, Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Michigan, Ferris State, Illinois State, Indiana State, Kennesaw State, Michigan, Minnesota, Oakland, SMU and Toledo.
2008 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS RECAP: The Gophers’ Teresa Puga shot a final round 72 in the 2008 Big Ten Championships and helped lead the Gophers to an eighth place tie with Iowa, its best since finishing seventh in the 2004 event. Minnesota’s combined score of 1,231 is the second lowest 72-hole tournament score in school history.
Puga, who finished sixth individually, carded a four-round total of 299 (77, 74, 75, 73), the third lowest 72-hole total for a Gopher golfer in school history. Mary Narzisi shot her second consecutive 76 to finish in a tie for 23rd with a 306 (76, 78, 76, 76). By shooting 306, Narzisi tied former Gophers’ Kate Hughes and Karyn Stordahl for the eighth best 72-hole total.
IMPROVEMENTS & RECORDS: The Gophers not only improved their finish in the Big Ten Championships in 2008, it showed across the board. Minnesota averaged 317.32 in 31 rounds played in 2005-06, 317 in 29 rounds during 2006-07 season and 314.45 in 33 rounds of competition this season.
Also, the 2007-08 Minnesota women’s golf team will find themselves amongst the leaders in the all-time records. They established a new 54-hole tournament score by shooting a combined 894 at the Rio Verde Invitational while the 1,231 shot at the Big Ten Championships is the second best 72-hole tournament score and the 291 carded in the second round of the Rio Verde Invitational tied for the second lowest round in school history.
Individually, Puga and Narzisi’s spring season averages of 77.36 and 77.90, respectively, are 7th and 12th best, respectively, in school history. Puga only competed during the spring season which qualifies her average of 77.36 for 7th best all-time. Narzisi tied for the 5th best 54-hole tournament score with a 219 at the Rio Verde Invitational.
THE GOPHERS: The Golden Gophers return eight players with collegiate golf experience for the 2008-09 season. Five of the eight will be in the lineup this weekend for the Gophers: sophomores Mary Narzisi, Teresa Puga and Michele Edlin as well as seniors Kelli Berns and Paige Bromen. Also, junior Christine Herzog will be playing the invitational as an individual.
UP NEXT: The Gophers next competition will again be in the state of Michigan as they will head to the Michigan State Invitational on Sept. 20-21 in East Lansing. The Invite will be played at MSU’s Forest Akers West, a 6,429 yard par 72 course originally designed by Bruce Mathews in 1958.
Players Mentioned
