Sept. 16, 2008

Complete 54-Hole Results in PDF Format

PULLMAN, Wash. - Gonzaga University got strong performances from a pair of freshmen Tuesday and the Bulldogs "A" team finished tied for sixth with Portland State University at the Northwest Dodger Dealers Inland Cup women's golf tournament at Palouse Ridge Golf Club on the Washington State University campus.

The Bulldogs, third in the team standings heading into Tuesday's final 18 holes, finished at 935, six strokes behind Boise State University for fifth. The host Cougars won the team title with an 881, well ahead of runnerup University of Nevada at 903. The Bulldogs also finished two shots better than West Coast Conference foe University of Portland which shot 937.

The Gonzaga "B" team, playing with only four players Tuesday after Katie Gumke withdrew Monday due to an injury, shot 1,007 and finished last in the 11-team field.

But it was the play of the freshmen that really caught the attention of head coach Brad Rickel.

"Our freshmen had our two low scores of the day," Rickel said of the 76 turned in by Jessica Howe and the 79 of Stephanie Corey. "Jessica was impressive with a 74-76 in her last two rounds (after an opening-round 87), and Stephanie played well today and had a good tournament."

Corey paced the Bulldogs with a 229 on rounds of 77-73-79, while Howe was 31st at 237 with 87-74-76.

Sophomore Rachel Sibbitt fired an 81 Tuesday to finish 16th at 230 with scores of 75-74-81, but other than that the scores skied for the Bulldogs. Gonzaga shot a 320 Tuesday after shooting a 298 in Monday's second round, their lowest team score since 2006.

Melanie DeLeon of Nevada took medalist honors at 214 with rounds of 71-69-74 for a 2-stroke victory over Jessica Black of WSU.

The tournament, played on the new WSU course that opened in August, didn't produce many low scores as only two sub-par rounds were shot over the 54 holes on the par 71, 6,051-yard layout.

"I think a lot of the scoring was due to the fact nobody had ever played this course," Rickel said. "Usually you go to a tournament and at least half the field has probably played a tournament there the previous year or played the course at some point."

But he said his team's performance on the final day wasn't totally unexpected.

"We had two freshmen and two sophomores playing in the final groups against two established programs in Washington State and Nevada," Rickel said. "It was the first time with us being there, but we'll take some lessons from today."

The Bulldogs now turn their attention to next week and the Bulldogs and Eagles Invitational being co-hosted by Gonzaga and Eastern Washington University at The Links in Post Falls, Idaho. Teams will tee off in a shotgun start Monday at 8 a.m., followed by Tuesday's final 18 holes beginning at 7:30 a.m. with the leaders going off last in the traditional format.

That gives Rickel the advantage of seeing his entire team for two tournaments to start the season, although the Bulldogs will more than likely be down to nine players after Gumke withdrew after 27 holes Monday due to a sore hand.

"I think we're improving, and I think we're further along than last year. The top four players have played for only me in college," Rickel said. "I have the best circumstance I could ask for in getting to see everybody play two tournaments. By this time next Tuesday our travel team should be established and we can buckle down for the final three tournaments of the fall."