South Bend, Ind. – The Gustavus women’s golf team wrapped up a busy weekend with a 10th place finish at the O’Brien National Invitational held Saturday and Sunday at the Warren Golf Course. The Gusties shot back-to-back 340s to finish with a two-day total 680 (+104). Methodist won the tournament with a 633 (+57), while Washington-St. Louis (640) and Centre (641) rounded out the top three in second and third, respectively.
“It’s a tough course that will beat you up if you’re not sharp,” said Head Coach Scott Moe. “We faced some exceptional competition this weekend and that will help us down the road, but we still need to continue to improve as we head into Saturday and the College City Classic.”
Senior Kayleigh Dittes (Eden Prairie, Minn.) led the Gusties with a 15th place finish. Dittes improved two strokes with an 80 (+8) on day two to finish with a 162 (+18). Liz Strom (So., Fargo, N.D.) showed the biggest improvement from day on to day two, firing an 84 (+12) on Sunday to finish in 39th with a 168 (+24). Holly Karkela (So., Perham, Minn.) rounded out Gustavus’ top finishers in 30th with a 168 (+24).
Winning the tournament was Kelsey Morrison of George Fox with a 149 (+5). Kelsey Smith of DePauw ended up in second with a 153 (+9), while Jennifer Sullivan of Methodist and Catherine Wagner of UW-Eau Claire rounded out the podium in a tie for third with 154s (+10).
The Gustavus women’s golf team will be back in action this weekend when it travels to Northfield, Minn. to take part in the College City Classic on Saturday and Sunday.