Oct. 6, 2009

Columbia, Missouri - The University of Tulsa's 35th-ranked women's golf team finished second in a field of 18 teams on Tuesday at the Johnie Imes Invitational at the Club at Old Hawthorne in Columbia, Missouri. The Golden Hurricane carded a final round 306 for a 48-over par 912 total.

TU's Kristina Merkle, a freshman from Honolulu, Hawaii, captured the individual title with her three-round 222 total after carding a 79 in today's final round. Michelle Morgan of Missouri and Molly Schemm of Wisconsin finished one stroke back with 223 totals for a second-place tie.

The nation's 41st-ranked Wisconsin clinched the team championship with their 54-hole 909 total, just three-strokes ahead of TU. Missouri was one stroke behind the Golden Hurricane with a 913, and Mississippi (916) and Illinois State (918) rounded out the top five teams.

Sophomore Marita Engzelius turned in the second-best performance for Tulsa with a 227 total for ninth place, while Shu-Yin Liu was three strokes back in 18th-place. Sarah Elliot carded a 234 and Abby Allford finished with a 241 total for 33rd and 63rd place, respectively. Kamryn Ruffin, who competed as an independent in this tournament, registered a 38th-place finish with her 235 total.

The Golden Hurricane will conclude fall action at the Turtle Bay Resort College Invitational in Kahuku, Hawaii on November 2-4.

Team Results
1. #41 Wisconsin - 309-299-301=909
2. #35 Tulsa - 301-305-306=912
3. Missouri - 316-298-299=913
4. Mississippi - 314-303-299=916
5. Illinois State - 305-306-307=918
6. Arkansas-Little Rock - 311-299-312=922
7. #47 Indiana - 310-303-315=928
8. Princeton -320-307-302=929
9. Missouri State - 310-309-315=934
10. Kansas - 319-313-303=935
11. Florida International - 314-308-316=938
12. Bradley - 318-311-313=942
13. Kansas State - 318-306-325=949
14. Middle Tennessee State - 320-314-324=958
15. Southern Illinois - 324-322-314=960
16. Iowa - 320-313-328=961
17. UMKC - 335-334-313=982
18. Redlands Community College - 341-336-342=1019
Top-Five Individuals
1. #78 Kristina Merkle, Tulsa - 69-74-79=222
T2. Michelle Morgan, Missouri - 79-71-73=223
T2. Molly Schemm, Wisconsin - 72-74-77=223
T4. Mallory Fraiche, Arkansas-Little Rock - 74-75-76=235
T4. Sara Grantham, Mississippi - 76-73-76=225
T4. Michelle Grilli, Princeton - 74-74-77=225
Tulsa Results
1. #78 Kristina Merkle - 69-74-79=222
T9. Marita Engzelius - 80-74-73=227
T18. Shu-Yin Liu - 77-79-74=230
T33. Sarah Elliot - 46-78-80=234
T63. Abby Allford - 79-81-81=241
T38. Kamryn Ruffin (independent) - 80-77-78=235