Detroit Lakes, Minn.--Laura Knutson (Fy./Edina, Minn.) fired a final-round five-over par 77, the third-best 18-hole score in school history and a Carleton first-year scoring record, as the Carleton College women's golf team matched its team record with a final-round 333 to finish third at the Concordia Invitational.
The University of North Dakota won the eight-team event with a score of 659, ten strokes better than the University of Manitoba. Carleton’s two-day scoring total of 687 was the third-best tourney score in Knights’ history. The Knights finished nine shots clear of the University of South Dakota and well in front of conference rivals College of St. Benedict, host Concordia College, Moorhead and Augsburg College. Both North Dakota and South Dakota are in transition to becoming Division I programs, and UND is ranked in the latest Golfweek/National Golf Coaches Association's Division II top 25 after finishing sixth at the Division II national meet a year ago.
Katrina Wood (Jr./Duluth, Minn./Marshall School) shot a 19-over par 163 as she finished second overall, and Knutson rebounded from an opening-round 89 to fire a 77, including birdies on two of the final five holes, to finish in a tie for fifth.
Wood finished three shots behind Molly Martin from the University of North Dakota. The junior finished runner-up at last week's UW-Eau Claire BluGold Fall Invitational as well.
Meghan Gajare (Fy./Kalamazoo, Mich./Portage Central) finished in a tie for 17th place with a 176, including a career-low 85 in the final round. Louise Buckler (Fy./Blaine, Minn./St. Paul Academy) rounded out the scoring for Carleton with a two-day total of 182, firing a career-best 88 in the final round.
The teams played between 24 and 27 holes on Sunday, as Saturday's round was halted by poor weather conditions.
"Obviously, we were thrilled to play the way we did today," Carleton head coach Eric Sieger said. "To be honest, I didn't think we were quite ready to go that low this early in the season, but Laura played well and we were able to post great third and fourth scores."
The Knights are back in action on Saturday, Sept. 15 at the Luther Women's Invitational in Decorah, Iowa.
Final Team Results
1) Univ. of North Dakota – 333-326=659
2) University of Manitoba – 335-334=669
3) Carleton College – 354=333=687
4) Univ. of South Dakota – 355-341=696
5) College of St. Benedict – 366-365=731
6) Concordia College – 382-353=735
7) Augsburg College – 401-382=783
8) UM-Crookston – 401-382=783
Bemidji State – Inc.
Northern State – Inc.
Top 20 Individual Results
1) Molly Martin – UND – 78-82=160
2) Katrina Wood – Carl – 80-83=163
3) Kristi Lucken – UND – 85-79=164
4) Kelli Dahle – UND – 84-81=165
5) Laura Knutson – Carl – 89-77=166*
6) Faye Zachedniak – UMan – 83-83=166
T7) Sarah Stebelski – UMan – 87-81=168
T7) Afton Pender – CC – 88-80=168
9) Abby Doorn – USD – 85-84=169
T10) Natalie Ruppert – UND – 86-84=170
T10) Lauren Rousseau – UMan – 80-90=170
12) Johanna Frykmark – AC – 88-84=172
T13) Kayla Mattfield – UND – 90-84=174
T13) Andrea Peterson – USD – 89-95=174
T15) Candice Bonrud – USD – 89-86=175
T15) Teresa Walch – CSB – 89-86=175
T17) Meghan Gajare – Carl – 91-85=176
T17) Jenna Schurman – BSU – 87-89=176
T19) Lauryn Job – UND – 89-89=178
T19) Anne Thorimbert – UMan – 85-93=178
T19) Amber Luitjens – USD – 92-86=178
T19) Hilary Vokovan – CC – 93-85=178
* Note – won scorecard playoff
Final Individual Team Results
Carleton – 354-333=687
Katrina Wood – 80-83=163
Laura Knutson – 89-77=166
Meghan Gajare – 91-85=176
Louise Buckler – 94-88=182
Sarah Ingebritsen – 96-93=189
