WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – After a tough first round on Monday, Old Dominion women's golf saved its best round for Tuesday as the Monarchs moved up the leaderboard to finish eighth at the Boilermaker Classic, hosted by Purdue at the Kampen-Cosler course at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex.
Additionally, newcomer Alina Shchepteva made a hole-in-one in the final round with an eagle on the par-3 13th hole.
"After a nervous start in the first round we really played well," said head coach Mallory Kane. "As the score shows this is a very difficult and demanding golf course. No one felt sorry for themselves, and we showed a lot of competitive poise as the tournament progressed."
The 15-team field played 36 holes on the first day of the tournament, and ODU found itself tied for 14th after carding a 314 to start. The Monarchs then turned in a 302 in the afternoon to finish the day in 11th place. On Tuesday, the team posted a final round of 295 to finished with a 47-over par 911.
The host Boilermakers captured the team title with a 15-over 879. Minnesota was the runner up with a 54-hole total of 893, and Kent State took third at 895 (+31). Purdue’s Natasha was the individual medalist after shooting a five-under 211. Abilene Christian’s Ryann Honea came in second and was two strokes behind Kiel with a three-under 213, and Minnesota’s Isabella McCauley placed third at two-under 214.
Lucia Gonzalez was the top finisher for ODU, tying for ninth with a six-over 222. The junior from Monterrey, Mexico recorded a one-under 71 in the final round thanks to four birdies and an eagle on the par-4 14th hole. Barbara Car was next for ODU, her final score of 15-over 231 tying for 37th, and Puneet Bajwa shot a 16-over 232 to tie for 43rd. Shchepteva went 17-over with a 233 to tie for 47th. Carley Rudolf tied for 53rd with a final tally of 234 (+18), and Mariana Arronte rounded out the team’s scores with a 235 (+19) to tie for 57th.
Gonzalez led ODU with eight birdies throughout the Classic, while Car converted a team-high 37 putts for par.
“We were excited to move up the leaderboard today and finish on a high note,” continued Kane. “It’s early and this is a young group, but I can already tell they have what it takes to be successful.”
The Monarchs are back in action on Sept. 20-22 when they travel to Greenville, South Carolina to play in Furman’s Lady Paladin Invitational.
Team Results
T4. Indiana (298-301-303 – 902) +38
T4. Western Kentucky (295-305-302 – 902) +38
ODU Lineup
T9. Lucia Gonzalez (75-76-71 – 222) +6
T37. Barbara Car (78-76-77 – 231) +15
T43. Puneet Bajwa (81-77-74 – 232) +16
T47. Alina Shchepteva (85-75-73 – 233) +17
T53. Carley Rudolf (80-75-79 – 234) +18
T57. Mariana Arronte* (82-76-77 – 235) +19
*Competed as an individual