Final Combined Results (.pdf)

MACOMB, Ill. - The IUPUI women's golf team opened up the 2010-11 season with a second-place finish at the WIU Autumn Invitational, carding a final round 315 to close at 626. Host Western Illinois ended up five shots better at 621 at the par-72, 5,943-yard Harry Mussatto Golf Course.

"It's a good start to our season," Head Coach John Andrews said. "We competed and we had a chance to win at the end. We knew Western (Illinois) would be tough on their home course and they were.

"All in all, I'm pretty pleased. The team played well and we were there in the end."

Leading the charges was sophomore Jordan Essman, who was playing her first tournament at IUPUI after missing all of last season due to an injury. The Indiana Tech-transfer carded a 36-hole 150 (74-76) to take second of 44 players. Essman was locked in a three-way tie for the lead entering Monday's round, but fell two shots off medalist honors.

"Essman is very capable," Andrews said. "She didn't play her best during our qualifier, but she obviously was ready for this tournament. Today, her short game was good. She's always a very good ball striker and her flight and control of her shots is always good."

Junior #Kristi O'Brien# tied for third at 155 (80-75) and sophomore Jordan Woods placed fifth after a 156 (75-81).  

"Kristi came back with a low round, like I thought she would. She was really good today. Her chipping is getting better. She's a much better player now than she was 365 days ago," Andrews said. "Jordan Woods didn't putt well today and she'd tell you that. Aside from that, she played a good round."

Redshirt sophomore Lauren Kuss took tenth with a two-day 165 (82-83) and junior Melanie Pray tied for 17th at 171 (87-84). Fellow junior Lisa Houseman rounded out the Jaguars' entries with a 179 (92-87) while playing as an individual.

"We posted some pretty good scores and Kuss didn't play that well," Andrews said. "I know Lauren's not especially happy with how she played, but a couple years ago, 165 might have been our low score at this tournament.

"We're getting better. I'm not going to say we're up there with Oral Roberts, but we're closing the gap. We're going to set a lot of records this year and we're definitely improving and getting better everyday."

WIU's Tara Peterman earned medalist honors with a 148 (+4).

The Jaguars will return to action on Monday, Sept. 20 when they tee off at the Chicago State Fall Invitational at the Lost Marsh Golf Course in Hammond, Ind..

Team Standings
1. Western Illinois Purple - 306-315=621
2. IUPUI - 311-315=626
3. Eastern Illinois - 340-335=675
4. SIU-Edwardsville - 338-344=682
5. Western Illinois Gold - 341-345=686
6. Illinois-Springfield - 343-361=704
7. Quincy - 376-343=719
8. Olivet Nazarene - 390-366=756

Individual Standings
2. Jordan Essman - 74-76=150 (+6)
t-3. Kristi O'Brien - 80-75=155 (+11)
5. Jordan Woods - 75-81=156 (+12)
10. Lauren Kuss - 82-83=165 (+21)
t-17. Melanie Pray - 87-84=171 (+27)
28. *Lisa Houseman - 92-87=179 (+35)
   * played as an individual