LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. - Leatherneck women's golf finished fall season play on Tuesday (Oct. 23) at the Pat Bradley Invitational. Western concluded the tournament in a tie for 10th-place with a three-round total of 950 (319, 314, 317).
"The course played really long for the tournament, but quite frankly for the length of the course, I thought the scores were good," said head coach Lia Biehl Lukkarinen. "I thought Kristi (Tschudin) and Ashley (Jeffers) played really well for us. I think this tournament was a good preview for our conference tournament in Texas. That was the main purpose for us coming here, to play a similar course to the one we will see there."
Host Florida International took home the team title with a three-round total of 876. Cincinnati and Bradley finish in second and third-place with scores of 902 and 904, respectively. Boston College and Dayton State College round out the top five for the Pat Bradley Invitational with scores of 905 and 907 for the tournament.
Individually for the Purple & Gold, Kristi Tschudin concluded tournament play tied for 17th-place. The junior fired a 75 in round three, her second 75 of the tournament, and finishes with a three-round total of 228 (78, 75, 75). 228 is the lowest three-round total for any member of the Leathernecks this fall.
Sophomore Ashley Jeffers finished tournament play tied for 28th-place. Jeffers fired a 71 in round three, the lowest one-round total for Western this fall, and finished with a 232 (83, 78, 71). Quincy, Illinois native Emily Brink closed out the invitational in 52nd-place finish with a 243 (78, 81, 84).
Jessica Knepp and Kelsea Visalli rounded out team play for the Leathernecks. Knepp finished in a tie for 60th with a 249 (80, 80, 89), while Visalli had a three round total of 255 (86, 82, 87), which was good for a 66th-place tie.
Playing as an individual for Western, Alexa Arent finished in a tie for 45th-place. The senior had a three round total of 238 (78, 79, 81).
Western will now be off until March 11th, when they travel to Primm, Nev. for the South Dakota State Jackrabbit Invitational. The spring break trip will also include a tournament in Las Vegas, Nev. on March 14-15 and Montery, Calif. on March 17-19.
"I thought the fall was good for us. We had some real shades of brilliance at times," continued Lukkarinen. "Coming in our expectations were high for what we could do. Hopefully we can fix a few things before it stars getting colder here soon. The girls will be in the weight room more now so they can build up strength for the spring. We just plan on working hard in the winter so we come back ready to play come spring."
