Indiana wins Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown

Coming back from third place after two rounds, the Indiana women’s golf team rallied to earn the victory Tuesday during their last tournament before winter break, the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown. Sophomore Elizabeth Tong tied for the individual win and led the Hoosiers in one of their strongest performances this year, IU Coach Clint Wallman said.

“I’m not sure I would call it our best performance of the season, but I would call it our grittiest,” he said. “Round two was tough because of winds all day, but we talked about putting ourselves in a position to have a chance and we did just that.”

Wallman said the team’s goal on Tuesday was to shoot the lowest score of any team.

While it didn’t accomplish that, the team’s 295 was enough to notch a three-stroke victory against second place Central Florida.

The Hoosiers opened and closed the fall with tournament victories. Tuesaday’s triumph was their first win since their first event of the season, the IU Fall Kickoff. Tong also won that event on the individual stage.

Tong’s final round score of 68 (-4) tied for her best of the season. She didn’t record a single bogey Tuesday. She finished the tournament with a score of 2-under 214 (70-76-68).

“To not make a bogey in 18 holes is really good,” Wallman said of Tong’s third round. “To not make a bogey in a tournament in adverse conditions with the lead is extraordinary. She did what she does best and came out on top.”

Graduate student Kristen Schelling shot a 2-under 70 during her last round, which moved her from tied for 16th to a tie for sixth by the end of the day. She finished with a 221 after going -3 on her last seven holes.

Schelling was somewhat familiar with the course, having played on it while at UNLV as an undergraduate.

“This was a nice feather in her cap to win this tournament at a course she played when she was at UNLV,” Wallman said. “There was a lot of pressure on her and she actually missed a few putts over the first two and a half days. But when we needed her she really came through on those last seven holes.”

Freshman Marissa DeCola had a team-high score on the second hole, where she recorded a nine on a par three. She came back to go +2 the rest of her round for a final score of 79.

“She played remarkably,” Wallman said. “Anytime you have a big number like that, it can shake you, but she’s a competitor and buckled down and chipped away to finish under 80. The books doesn’t reflect nearly her effort today.”

The Hoosiers now head into the winter offseason sporting their first major win of the year. They come back Feb. 10 to compete in the Lady Puerto Rico Classic.

“Anytime you win a big tournament against people ranked ahead of you, that gives confidence,” Wallman said. “For us, it doesn’t build confidence as much as validate our confidence. We did well this week, but still not our best and were able to win.”