Women's golf placed 14th in first tournament of season

After three days of competitive action, the IU women’s golf team placed 14th in its first tournament of 2013, the Lady Puerto Rico Classic at the Rio Mar Country Club in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.

The Hoosiers shot a 317 Tuesday afternoon, the highest total of the three day tournament, to finish the Lady Puerto Rico Classic with a total of 942. The Hoosiers’ best day was Monday when they posted a total team score of 311.

Fifteen schools participated in the tournament.

Leading the Hoosiers in scoring was graduate student Kristen Schelling, who posted a 76 on the final day of competition to finish in a tie for 45th. Her round Sunday included two birdies.

Sophomore Elizabeth Tong was the next lowest scorer for the Hoosiers after she finished tied for 59th. Her final round of 81 included pars on 12 of 18 holes, but she was ultimately hurt by a double bogey on the 17th hole and a triple bogey on the 5th hole.

Senior Kate Coons wrapped up the tournament tied for 74th. She was the Hoosiers’ leading scorer after posting a first round 74 on Sunday, but finished the next two rounds 86 and 83, respectively.

Senior Rosie Davies was next for the Hoosiers. She tied for 80th after shooting a final round 82 Tuesday. Her best round came Monday when she fired an 80.  

Rounding out the Hoosiers five golfers was freshman Marissa DeCola who, after being disqualified for an undisclosed rules violation during the first round Sunday, bounced back strong for the final two rounds. She fired a 76 and 78 during the final two rounds for a two-day total of 154.      

The defending NCAA champion Alabama Crimson Tide won the tournament with a 13-stroke victory against Arkansas, carding a score of 871. The Razorbacks followed at 884, with Texas Tech third (885), TCU fourth (895) and Iowa State fifth (896).

Individually, Arkansas’s Emily Tubert went wire-to-wire for the victory. She led after all three rounds of the tournament and posted a 73 in the final round to finish with a 3-under par total of 213.

IU Coach Clint Wallman’s Hoosiers will be back out on the course Feb. 24 and 25 at The Westbrook Spring Invitational in Peoria, Ariz.

—Andy Waldo