Full Results
Eau Claire, Wis.--Laura Knutson (Fy./Edina, Minn.) fired a six-over par 79, only one shot off her own first-year single-round scoring record, and Katrina Wood (Jr./Duluth, Minn./Marshall School) made her final statement in a bid to qualify for the NCAA Championships with an 81 to push 17th-ranked Carleton College to fourth-place finish at the UW-Eau Claire Spring Invitational.
Both players finished in the top five in a field that included second-ranked University of St. Thomas, fourth-ranked UW-Stevens Points and 16th-ranked UW-Eau Claire.
The Knights fired a team score of 343, one of the top 10 scores in school history, and 19 shots better than the score they shot on the same course in the season-opening tournament. Three of the Knights' five best scores this season have come in their last three rounds and allowed them to close the spring season without a loss to any teams ranked outside the top 25.
"For us to go out and post a score like that with the temperatures what they were and not being able to play yesterday was pretty impressive," said Carleton head coach Eric Sieger. The Tommies won the event at 326, followed by the Pointers at 335 and the host BluGolds three shots ahead of the Knights at 340. "It's just real gratifying to see us playing right with Stevens Points and Eau Claire. We've come so far this season and made significant strides."
Louise Buckler (Fy./Blaine, Minn./St. Paul Academy) and Meghan Gajare (Fy./Kalamazoo, Mich./Portage Central) rounded out Carleton's scorers with a 91 and 92, respectively.
The event marked the final appearance for senior Sarah Ingebritsen (Spokane, Wash./Lewis & Clark), who closed her career ranked in the top five in career rounds played. "I honestly don't know what we would have done without Sarah this year," Sieger said. "To have three first-year players in the line-up and have them perform so well is directly attributable to Sarah's leadership. She really worked to integrate those three rookies and make them feel comfortable and confident from day one. We, and I, will really miss Sarah next year."
The event is the final regular-season one for the Knights, who put together arguable the finest season in the 10-year history of the program. The Knights have been ranked the entire spring season and closed the season with a flourish, breaking the 36-hole school record last week and tying the 18-hole school record in the fall. Overall, the Knights tallied five of the best 12 18-hole scores in school history.
"To be honest, looking back the level we've been able to attain is a bit surprising to me," Sieger said. "Coming into the season with three newcomers in the line-up, I thought we might take a step back this year. Instead, I feel like we took a huge step forward, and it's a huge testament to this group. They aren't afraid to work hard, take some constructive criticism and make changes. While it's been a long spring and we're a bit worn down, I think the four returning starters are excited to work in the off-season and come back in September and see if we can take this thing to the next level."
Wood, meanwhile, has a very good chance at advancing to the NCAA Championships, which will be held on May 13-16 at Centennial Oaks Golf Club in Waverly, Iowa. "I thought Katrina had a pretty solid year. We've played one of the toughest schedules in the nation and every tournament we play there's at least a couple of top-five teams and very talented players, and she's been right with them the entire year. Hopefully she'll have a chance to continue her season at the NCAAs."
The selections will be announced on Monday, May 5. Wood is attempting to become the second Carleton female to advance to the NCAA Championships, as Kassie Wells '07 did so last year.
