This was the first team title TU won since the 2008 Conference USA Championship.

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Tulsa Women's Golfers Win Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational

Merkle turned in a second-place 214 finish

Sept. 29, 2009

Manhattan, Kansas - The University of Tulsa's 37th-ranked women's golf team captured the team championship at the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational on Tuesday afternoon. The Golden Hurricane carded a final round 290 and finished with a 37-over par 901 score at the Colbert Hills Golf Course in Manhattan, Kansas.

This was the first team title TU won since the 2008 Conference USA Championship.

"The weather conditions yesterday were horrible with the wind at 30 mph and very cold, but the kids hung in there and battled not only the teams, but the elements," Head Coach Randy Keck said. "Today we started in a position that we knew if we had a solid round we could win the tournament, and we did. It was a great team effort today. We made a lot of birdies to finish our round and it was wonderful. It was a great way to get the season started."

Freshmen Kristina Merkle, who broke the women's course record yesterday with her second round of 66, carded a 70 in the final round for a 214 total. Sophomore Marita Engzelius moved up four spots to finish third overall with a 227 score, while classmate Shu-Yin Liu was two strokes back for fourth place. Sarah Elliot turned in a 232 score and Abby Allford carded a 238 for 10th and 24th places, respectively. Kamryn Ruffin competed as an independent and finished 31st overall.

Arkansas turned in a three-round 904 total for second place, while host Kansas State shot an 83-over par 947 for third place. Illinois State (948) and Wichita State (952) rounded out the top five teams.

Arkansas' Kelli Shean won the individual race with a seven-under par 209, as she carded a 74, 68 and 67, respectively.

Tulsa will return to action on October 5-6 at the Johnie James Invitational in Columbia, Missouri.

Team Results
#37 Tulsa - 309-302-290=901
Arkansas - 308-305-291=904
Kansas State - 329-313305=947
Illinois State - 329-309-310=948
Wichita State - 322-323-307=952
#50 Kansas - 324-325-305=954
Kansas State `B' - 337-319-304=960
Oral Roberts - 346-314-307=967
St. John's - 352-316-304=972
Creighton - 339-330-311=980
Northern Iowa - 347-326-309=982
UMKC - 353-337-314=1004
Houston Baptist - 368-339-333=1040
Tulsa Results
2. Kristina Merkle - 78-66-70=214
3. Marita Engzelius - 78-78-71=227
T4. Shu-Yin Liu - 74-80-75=229
T10. Sarah Elliot - 79-79-74=232
T24. Abby Allford - 80-79-79=238
T31. Kamryn Ruffin (Independent) - 85-75-81=241
Top-Five Individuals
1. Kelli Shean, Arkansas - 74-68-67=209
2. Kristina Merkle, Tulsa - 78-66-70=214
3. Marita Engzelius, Tulsa - 78-78-71=227
T4. Shu-Yin Liu, Tulsa - 74-80-75=229
T4. Kristin Ingram, Arkansas - 79-75-75=229
T4. Renee Cloutier, St. John's - 79-75-75=229