PRIMM, Nev. - Three highly successful seniors finished their final year as Leathernecks this afternoon at the Summit League Championships in Primm, Nev. Tara Peterman, Lindsay Wandrey and Claire Gursh closed out their careers in style as they helped produce the lowest round of the season. The Purple & Gold finished the three-round event with a 938 (315,320,303).
"We shot a team low and overall it could not have gone much better," stated head coach Lia Biehl Lukkarinen. "We talked a lot about closing and not giving shots away and I am proud of how the team did that today."
"It was obviously an emotional final round so they handled that well to go low and catch Oakland and finish second," continued Lukkarinen.
Amy Anderson took home the Summit League Championship MVP with a 219 (72,77,70) while Oral Roberts won the team title with a (313,307,291).
Peterman knocked three strokes off of her previous low round to finish round three with a 70. The career best helped the senior finish in fourth place and earn All-Tournament team honors. Peterman carded a 228 (77,81,70) for the event. It is her sixth top-five finish of the season and ninth of her career.
"Tara is a great athlete with a good head on her shoulders," said Lukkarinen. "She had some great iron shots today and her round could have been a 68."
Wandrey fired a 230 (75,77,79) and collected her fourth top-10 finish of the season and.
"Lindsay has been solid all season and there were some obvious nervousness there as she was near the top but she did not let it compromise her round," stated Lukkarinen.
Gursh finished her career with a 21st place finish as she collected a score of 242 (80,79,83).
"Claire had a great year and the fast greens forced some struggles but she was solid for us again today," said Lukkarinen.
Alexa Arent and Emily brink both fired rounds of 77 on Tuesday. Arent finished with a 244 (84,83,77) and Brink carded a 245 (86,83,77).
Those three Leatherneck seniors will exit as one of the strongest and most impressive trio of golfers Western Illinois has ever had. This Leatherneck team is the winningest group to come through Western Illinois. The three have combined for 20 top-10 finishes this season. Gursh, Peterman and Wandrey have helped the Leathernecks win eight tournaments. The trio will leave with 208 rounds of Division I golf to their names and a total of 16,921 strokes. The group's stroke average is a combined 81.3 over the last three seasons.
"Moving forward is going to difficult but with the underclassmen we have I am confident the program will continue to go in the right direction," continued Lukkarinen. "We just have to keep building and continue the momentum."
Team Scores
1. Oral Roberts 313 307 291 911 +59
2. Western Illinois 315 320 303 938 +86
3. Oakland 317 313 309 939 +87
4. North Dakota State 320 325 302 947 +95
5. UMKC 323 318 309 950 +98
6. South Dakota State 316 324 312 952 +100
7. IUPUI 329 324 331 984 +132
8. Southern Utah 334 332 322 988 +136
9. Centenary College 354 357 343 1054 +202
10. IPFW 365 370 342 1077 +225
Individual Scores
4. Tara Peterman 77 81 70 228 +15
6. Lindsay Wandrey 74 77 79 230 +17
21. Claire Gursh 80 79 83 242 +29
23. Alexa Arent 84 83 77 244 +31
T24. Emily Brink 85 83 77 245 +32
