University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Record-Breaking Season Continues
4/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Records Falling: The University of Minnesota women’s golf program has fielded teams every year since 1975, or for 33 seasons. The 2008-09 Gophers are well on their way, statistically, to being the best the program has seen. Heading into the Indiana Invitational on Apr. 6-7, Minnesota has averaged a combined score of 307.04 for a stroke average of 76.76, the lowest average through eight events in school history. The closest competition is from the 2000-01 team which held a 77.6 average.
Individually, Minnesota sophomore Teresa Puga already holds the lowest fall season scoring average of 74.07, established this season, and currently sits at 76.77 this spring which would be the program’s third lowest spring average. If the season ended today, Puga would easily hold the school’s record for stroke average in a season at 75.18. Kate Hughes, arguably the best player in school history, holds the record of 75.51.
Freshman Courtney Massey is quickly showing that she can play at the collegiate level, as she hold the program’s 13th best spring average of 77.88 while sophomore Michele Edlin’s spring average of 78.55 is the 19th lowest in program history. Massey didn’t compete during the fall so her average would be the 13th best in a season and Edlin’s season average of 78.18 is the 18th lowest.
Also, the Gophers have finished in the top 10 in seven of the eight tournaments this season, five of which were also top-five finishes. Individually, Minnesota’s roster includes eight players that hold season averages under 80.
Minnesota worst finish of the season was a 16th place finish at the Las Vegas Invitational, however, the team’s 54-hole score of 885 is the lowest 54-hole tournament is program history.
Indiana Invitational: Minnesota will hope to keep its streak of finishing in the top 10 in all but one tournament this season at the Indiana Invitational in Columbus, Ind. The Gophers are coming off of a fourth place finish at the Winthrop Intercollegiate. The event will take place at the 6,179 yard, par 72 Otter Creek Golf Club.
The field will play a practice round on April 5, leading into 36 holes on April 6. The third and final round will be played on April 7. Live scoring will be available at www.golfstat.com.
The 15-team tournament field includes: Augusta State, Ball State, Illinois, Illinois State, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, Lipscomb, Marshall, Michigan, Minnesota, Texas, UNLV, Western Michigan and Wisconsin. The field includes three teams amongst the nation’s top-50 according to the most recent Golfweek rankings, led by UNLV at 31st. Texas is close behind at 35th, followed by Michigan at 49th. The Gophers are 71st.
The Gophers: Minnesota’s lineup for the Winthrop Intercollegiate will include seniors Paige Bromen and Kelli Berns and sophomores Michele Edlin, Mary Narzisi, Teresa Puga and Samantha Sommers.
Up Next: The Gophers will be off until Apr. 18-19 when they will travel Columbus, Ohio to take part in the Lady Buckeye before heading to the Big Ten Championships on Apr. 24-26 in West Lafayette, Ind. Minnesota finished in a tie for eighth place in last years event, the highest finish in three years.
Players Mentioned
