Final Results (.pdf)

SEASIDE, Calif. - IUPUI sophomore Jordan Essman fired a final round even par 73 and earned a top 10 finish as the Jaguars completed play at the Golf Mart Lady Otter Invitational being held at the par-73, 5,810-yard Black Horse Golf Course on Monterey Bay in Seaside, Calif.. Essman tied for eighth among the 45-player field at 157 (84-73).

The Jaguars placed fifth of eight teams at 649, capped by a final round 318. Host CSU-Monterey Bay won the event at 618 and Sonoma State was second at 638. Sonoma State's Spencer Heller won medalist honors with a 36-hole 148 (+2).

Essman's final round 73 was the best round of her IUPUI career and helped propel her to a second career top 10 finish.

"I think today, I was hitting more greens," Essman said. "My putter was more under control and I was able to roll in some long putts. Yesterday, I missed some short putts and today they were going in.

"Even when I missed off the tees, I missed in all the right places. With my irons, I was throwing darts right at the pins and leaving myself in good spots."

Essman's first of three birdies on Tuesday came at No. 9 with Head Coach John Andrews watching. She finished the day with three birdies and three bogeys.

"I knew when I made the first birdie, it kind of broke through a barrier for me," Essman added. "I hadn't made a birdie in five rounds, so then I knew I was playing well."

Junior Kristi O'Brien tied for 18th overall at 162 (81-81) and Melanie Pray came in at 163 (81-82).

"Melanie played pretty consistent both days," Andrews said. "It was good to see that."

Sophomore Jordan Woods tied for 27th at 168 (86-82) and Lauren Kuss rounded out the lineup at 172 (85-87). More than anything, Andrews thought the tournament provided good preparation for the spring.

"I thought the fall went pretty well, but this was the least successful tournament of the fall," he said. "The travel of this trip prepares us fantastically for the league tournament. We'd fly out the day before and play a practice round - the only difference will be that it's 54 holes."

O'Brien led the Jaguars with a 77.0 stroke average in five tournaments this fall. Behind her, Essman finished at 79.1 and Woods closed at 79.4.

Team Standings
1. CSU-Monterey Bay - 317-301=618 (+34)
2. Sonoma State - 327-311=638 (+54)
t-3. CSU-Monterey Bay Blue - 332-307=639 (+55)
t-3. Academy of Art Univ. - 331-308=639 (+55)
5. IUPUI - 331-318=649 (+65)
6. Chico State - 328-322=650 (+66)
7. CSU-San Marcos - 341-327=668 (+84)
8. Biola - 419-405=824 (+240)

Player Standings
t-8. Jordan Essman - 84-73=157 (+11)
t-18. Kristi O'Brien - 81-81=162 (+16)
t-20. Melanie Pray - 81-82=163 (+17)
t-27. Jordan Woods - 86-82=168 (+22)
32. Lauren Kuss - 85-87=172 (+26)