Final Results (pdf)
Eau Claire, Wis.--Katrina Wood (Jr./Duluth, Minn./Marshall School) fired the second-best 36-hole total in relation to par in school history, becoming only first Knight to break 160 over two rounds twice in her career, but in the end she came up one shot shy of winning the UW-Eau Claire Fall Invitational after finishing at 14-over par 159.
Wood, who fired a first-round 76 to match her career low, posted a final round 10-over par 83 to finish in solo second. She finished one shot back of Eau Claire's Meghan Sobotta, but one ahead of Laura Heck (St. Thomas) and Jordan Matheson (Macalester). The MIAC dominated the individual leaderboard, taking seven of the top 10 spots.
The Knights struggled a bit in the final round and finished ninth with a two-day total of 709. They finished one shot clear of the College of St. Benedict but five back of Waldorf College (Iowa) and 11 back of Macalester College.
"Katrina had a very solid weekend," said Eric Sieger, the Knights' head coach. "She had a little hiccup at the end that, in hindsight, cost her the tournament, but it was a great learning experience for her to be playing with some of the top players in the country and taking it right to them. She executed our game plan real well, but the exciting part is that I think she can play even better."
Laura Knutson (Fy./Edina, Minn.) rebounded after a tough first round to fire a final round 13-over par 86 to finish in a tie for 37th. After a rough ball-striking day on Saturday, she hit the ball much better on Sunday and only a balky putter kept her from going lower.
"I think Laura really showed me this weekend that she's going to be a steady player for us this season," Sieger said. "I was really pleased that she was able to stay positive after that first round and come back in tough conditions and post a lower score.
Senior Sarah Ingebritsen (Seattle/Lewis & Clark) ended at 189, which included a first-round 88, her best score in nearly a year. Meghan Gajare (Fy./Kalamazoo, Mich./Portage Central) and Louise Buckler (Fy./Blaine, Minn./St. Paul Academy) both posted scores of 193 for the Knights, as Buckler rebounded to fire a 93 on the tougher Wild Ridge Golf Course track in the second round.
"We had that great first round, but we weren't able to find a solid fourth score today," Sieger said. "That will be the difference for us this year. I think if we can consistently get a solid score from the bottom of the line up, we're a top 25 team."
The University of St. Thomas, ranked fifth in the latest Golf World/National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) poll, rallied with a final round 328 to finish at 654 and race away with the team title at one of the most competitive fields in Division III women's golf. Ninth-ranked UW-Stevens Point ended up second at 665, followed by third-ranked Gustavus Adolphus College at 667. First-round leader and 10th-ranked Wartburg College (Iowa) finish one shot behind the Gusties at 668.
The Knights are back in action next weekend, playing in the Cobber Open on Sept. 7 and the Concordia Invitational on Sept. 8-9. Both events are at Wildflower Golf Course in Detroit Lakes, Minn.
