Coming off one of the best performances in the programâÄôs history, the Minnesota womenâÄôs golf program continued to stay near the top of the leaderboard over the weekend, finishing the Rio Verde Invitational all alone in second, 14 strokes out of first place. At the Kiawah Island Classic Feb. 21-23, the Gophers shot an 893, good enough for the second-best 54-hole finish in school history. Minnesota nearly topped that score by shooting an 895 this weekend at Quail Run Golf Course in Rio Verde, Ariz. Junior Michele Eldin led the way for the Gophers with a 7-over-par 220 to end up in a tie for third overall. Junior Teresa Puga followed, shooting a 10-over 223 to tie for seventh. Puga was named Big Ten Conference player of the week for her performance at the Kiawah Island Classic with a 3-over-par 219. Fellow junior Samantha Sommers ended in a tie for 15th with a 16-over 229. Junior Mary Narzisi and freshman Jaclyn Shepherd brought up the rear for the Gophers shooting a 23-over for a tie for 43rd and 24-over to tie for 48th, respectively. Michigan won the three-day tournament by shooting a 19-over-par 881. The Wolverines also boasted medalist honors with Ashley Bauer shooting a 4-under par 209. The Gophers will look to continue their hot streak during the spring season with a March 15-17 trip to Phoenix for the Northern Migration Invitational.