The Gophers women’s golf team placed eighth out of twelve teams at the Lady Northern Invitational in Glencoe, Ill. Oct. 10-11.

Senior Teresa Puga, the Gophers lowest individual finisher, fired a three-over-par, three-round total of 219 to finish in a tie for eleventh place.  Puga was tied for fifth one-under-par and tied for fifth after two rounds, but a four-over, final round 76 pushed her into a tie for eleventh.   

Senior Samantha Sommers was Minnesota’s next-best finisher scoring seven-over-par. Sophomore Jackie Shepherd at 14-over and senior Michele Edlin and freshman Banchalee Theinthong at 19-over.

The Gophers had only one triple bogey , but 13 double bogeys and 64 bogeys along with only 30 birdies propelled the team to a 42-over, 906 three-round score.  While the team was 22-over par on the front nine (holes 1-9) throughout the tournament, they struggled on the back nine (10-18) shooting 42-over. 

Out of the ten Big Ten teams playing in the event, the Gophers finished sixth.  Defending national champion Purdue had four golfers place in the top 15 individually and won the event at six-under-par.  Runner-up Northwestern finished 17 strokes behind at 11-over-par followed by Ohio State at 19-over. 

Lauren Weaver of Northwestern won the tournament individually finishing eight-under-par, four strokes ahead of Purdue’s Laura Gonzalez. 

Minnesota’s next tournament is the Las Vegas Invitational Oct. 25.