MANHATTAN, Kan. After rain delays and a two-hole playoff for individual champion, Kansas State’s Helene Robert took the top honor over Nebraska’s Stephanie Ruiz at the Marilynn Smith/Sunflower Invitational at Colbert Hills Golf Course Tuesday. Robert finished one-under par for the tournament, after carding a three-round score of 75-70-70215. The Wildcat squad shot the low round of the day and ended their home tournament in third, shooting 301-294-298893.
TCU, which shot under-par scores for the first two rounds, took the team title despite higher scores in the third round due to damp conditions. The Horned Frogs fired rounds of 287-283-299869 (+5). Nebraska took second, finishing three shots ahead of the Wildcats.
“I am proud of our team effort,” head coach Kristi Knight said. “They did their best to run down Nebraska, but they came up short. We did manage to get the low round of the day though.”
The individual title for junior Robert marks the first time a Wildcat has taken home the top honor since Christine Boucher did at the Price’s Give Em Five Challenge in fall 2003.
“Helene played great golf,” Knight said. “She had a rocky start yesterday. A 75-70-70 is really good though. She stayed patient and hung in there.”
Also individually for Kansas State, sophomore Michelle Regan had highest finish ever, tying for 12th after shooting 74-77-74225. Another Wildcat had her top-career finish as sophomore Hailey Mireles tied for 15th, carding scores of 75-74-77226. Sophomore Kali Quick tied for 23rd, and junior Katy Heffel tied for 41st. Freshman Christine Arsenault saw her first collegiate action at the Smith/Sunflower and finished 64th.
The Wildcats continue play at the Lady Razorback Invitational Oct. 16-18 in Fayetteville, Ark. For complete results visit www.kstatesports.com.
Team Scores: 1. TCU 287-283-299869, 2. Nebraska 297-285-308890, 3. Kansas State 301-294-298893, 4. Oral Roberts 304-299-309912, 5. Missouri State 311-302-304917, 6. Kansas 315-297-311923, 7. UTEP 316-297-315928, 8. Arkansas-Little Rock 314-306-316936, T9. Wichita State 322-299-322943, T9. North Texas 320-305-318943, 11. Xavier 317-300-330947, 12. UMKC 326-324-345995.
Top Individuals: 1. Helene Robert, Kansas State, 75-70-70215, 2. Stephanie Ruiz, Nebraska, 73-67-75215, 3. Catherine Matranga, TCU, 74-68-75217, T4. Camille Blackerby, TCU, 72-69-77218, T4. Stacey Bieber, TCU, 73-70-75218.
Wildcat Individuals: 1. Helene Robert 75-70-70215, T12. Michelle Regan 74-77-74225, T15. Hailey Mireles 75-74-77226, T23. Kali Quick 77-77-77231, T41. Katy Heffel 82-73-83238, 64. *Christine Arsenault 94-102-92288.
* Competed as an individual
