March 11, 2012
RIO VERDE, Ariz. - Penn State dropped two spots during the final round and finished in fourth place out of 16 teams at the Rio Verde Invitational, hosted by Western Michigan, Sunday. The Nittany Lions carded a 59-over-par three-round score of 911 (310-294-307) on the par-71, 6,260-yard Quail Run Golf Course. The 911 tied a season-best three-round team score.
Junior Emily Ransone (Hilliard, Ohio) earned her first top 10 finish of the season, ending the tournament in 10th place. Ransone birdied the par-5 18th hole and recorded a 12-over-par 225 (78-71-76). Freshman Katlyn Elliott (Peterborough, Ont.) ended the tournament one stroke behind the Nittany Lion leader with a 226 (77-70-79), notching birdies on the third and 10th holes. She tied for 11th place.
Sophomore Christina Vosters (Bethany Beach, Del.) birdied the par-4 first hole in the third round and registered a 230 (77-76-77), and she finished in a tie for 21st place.
Freshman Erin Michel (Mason, Ohio) led the team with three birdies in the final round as she notched a birdie on the 14th, 16th and 18th holes. She tallied a three-round score of 233 (78-78-77) for a 20-over-par as she finished tied for 26th place. Classmate Elyse Archambault (St-Jean-sur-Rich, Que.) tied for 60th place and carded a 242 (88-77-77) in the tournament.
Kansas earned the team title with a 48-over-par 900 (312-297-291), while Akron's Kristen Hill notched the individual title with a 6-over-par 219 (73-74-72).
The Nittany Lions will continue their spring season at the Pinehurst Challenge, hosted by the College of Charleston, in Pinehurst, N.C. The two-day tournament is scheduled to begin on March 19 and end on March 20.