Final Results (.pdf)

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. - After a trio of runner-up finishes during the fall, the IUPUI women's golf team finally got the sweet taste of victory as the Jaguars shot a final round 304 en route to an eight-shot win at the Don Benbow Invitational at the par-72 Jacksonville Beach Golf Club on Tuesday (Mar. 12). IUPUI entered day two six shots off the lead and in fifth-place before rallying to pace the 10-team field.

Senior Lauren Kuss finished tied for second at 155 (79-76) and was denied medalist honors in a one-hole playoff. Classmate Jordan Woods placed fourth at 156 (84-72) and sophomore Yuri Otsuka also captured a top 10 finish at 160 (83-77).

"Obviously, the ladies played better today," IUPUI Head Coach John Andrews said. "Jordan Woods played well and (Lauren) Kuss played better. She bogeyed the last two holes and the bogey on 18 cost her the title, but she hit a lot of good shots today.

"After the tournament, I got a bunch of congrats from the opposing coaches, but honestly, 304 is what I expect from this team. Now, I may be doing cartwheels if we shoot 295 or 298, but 304 is about what I expect from this group of ladies."

It was the second straight year IUPUI rallied to win the Benbow Invite on the final day. Last year, IUPUI trailed by five shots after the first round, but fired a second round 299 and won by seven strokes.

Junior Ana Fernandez de Mesa tied for 21st overall at 166 (87-79) and sophomore Carolyn Kupchik rounded out the lineup at 178 (95-83). Sophomore Kelli Witt closed at 170 (88-82) while playing as an individual and redshirt freshman Maria Krempp shot 181 (91-90).

As a team, IUPUI did a good job of avoiding big numbers by leading the field with 91 pars and finishing second overall with 11 birdies. Both Woods and Otsuka had four birdies each and Kuss had three in 36 holes.

Kuss, seeking her second career tournament title and her first since her freshman season, sent her tee shot 20 yards past the flag on the 315-yard, par-4 No. 1 in the playoff and was unable to make par from there. She missed a 12-footer for par and Appalachian State's Rumbidzai Masamvu earned medalist honors on the first playoff hole.

Cleveland State and Appalachian State tied for second at 645 and host Butler was fourth at 650. Evansville was fifth at 660.

IUPUI will cap the Spring Break trip on Wednesday and Thursday when four individuals compete in the Bulldog Florida Invitational at Windsor Parke Golf Course.

Team Standings
1. IUPUI - 333-304=637 (+61)
t-2. Cleveland State - 327-318=645 (+69)
t-2. Appalachian State - 327-318=645 (+69)
4. Butler - 332-318=650 (+74)
5. Evansville - 337-323=660 (+84)
6. Bethune-Cookman - 330-334=664 (+88)
7. Eastern Illinois - 339-329=668 (+92)
8. Northern Kentucky - 344-336=680 (+104)
9. California Baptist - 354-337=691 (+115)
10. IPFW - 358-341=699 (+123)

Individual Standings
t-2. Lauren Kuss - 79-76=155 (+11)
4. Jordan Woods - 84-72=156 (+12)
t-10. Yuri Otsuka - 83-77=160 (+16)
t-21. Ana Fernandez de Mesa - 87-79=166 (+22)
t-43. Carolyn Kupchik - 95-83=178 (+34)
*t-28. Kelli Witt - 88-82=170 (+26)
*t-48. Maria Krempp - 91-90=181 (+37)
        * playing as an individual