DUPONT, WASH. --- The Pacific Lutheran University Women's Golf team hosted the annual PLU Invitational on Monday and Tuesday at the Home Course. The Lutes continued to improve their scores early in the season, as freshman Abby Matelski found herself near the top of the leaderboard throughout the first round and into the second. As a team, the Lutes finished in fifth out of nine teams.
 
ON THE COURSE
 
In round one on Monday morning, freshman Abby Matelski got off to a hot start, firing a one-over 37 in the opening nine holes. Matelski made a birdie on the eighth hole of her round. Senior Emily Fisher began the second tournament of the Fall season with a 43 after making an eagle two on the par-four second hole. Fishers eagle was a hole-out shot from the fairway that found the bottom of the cup. Sophomore Sara Rhodes was just behind Fisher, and she fired a 44 in the first nine holes of the tournament. Senior Ariana Warren got her tournament started with a 49 on the front-nine. Freshman Kathleen Pullin shot a 51 in the first nine-holes.
 
The back-nine on Monday proved to be too strong for the Lutes, as Matelski shot a 41. Matelski's strong front nine still propelled her into a tie for fourth after round one with her best score of her Lutes career, a six-over 78. Fisher shot a 42 in the second set of nine holes, giving her an 85 in round one. Rhodes followed close yet again with a 43 on the back-nine, finishing with an 87 in the first round. Warren improved by two strokes on the back-nine with a 47, firing a 97 in the opening round. Pullin shot a 48 on the back, giving her a 99 in round one.
 
The second round brought better weather for the Women in the morning of round two. Rhodes improved greatly in the second round, opening up with a three-over par first nine holes. Fisher began her second round on hole one, and improved from her first round, with a 42 on the front-nine. Matelski's strong play couldn't continue on Tuesday, as she opened her second round with a 44 through the first nine holes of play. Pullin also found her stride with a five-over par front nine. Warren began with a 45 on the first nine holes.
 
The final nine holes for the Women, Rhodes finished very strong, birding her final two holes to shoot her best round of the season; a five-over 77. Fisher completed her tournament with another 85 on Tuesday. Matelski shot an 86 on Tuesday, good for a tie for 12^th. Matelski now has two top-15 finishes in her career. Pullin shot an impressive 89 in the final round to tie for 34^th. Warren completed the tournament with a 104. Competing as inidividuals, Madison Hull shot a 93 and 85 in the tournament. Ashley Nguyen also competed as an individual, shooting rounds of 87 and 98.
 
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
 
T-12^th – Abby Matelski  – 78, 86 – 164 (+20)
T-12^th Sara Rhodes – 87, 77 – 164 (+20)
T-20^th Emily Fisher – 85, 85 – 170 (+26)
T-34^th Kathleen Pullin – 99, 89 – 188 (+44)
40^th Ariana Warren – 96, 104 – 190 (+56)
*Madison Hull – 93, 85 – 178 (+34)
*Ashley Nguyen – 87, 98 – 185 (+41)
 
*Indicates competed as an Individual
 
TEAM RESULTS
 
1^st - Whitman – 317, 303 – 620
2^nd – Whitworth – 315, 317 – 632
3^rd – North Idaho – 333, 323 – 656
4^th – Pacific – 346, 331 - 677
5^th – Pacific Lutheran – 346, 337 - 683

HEAR FROM COACH COPP

"As a team we underperformed on day 1. We got a good draw with the weather, so conditions were score-able but a few holes presented challenges we weren't ready for. Abby's 78 made for an impressive day. She was just +1 thru 12 holes and gained a lot of good experience putting herself in a position to go low. Anytime you can be sub 80 in our conference you'll have a chance at competing with the best individuals our conference has. We were all stoked for her! Our 9 stroke improvement on day 2 can be attributed to a shift in our mental approach. Sara's career low round of 77 was a big highlight in our young season. She found something today that I think will help really free her up in tournament competition. We've had a lot of success at learning new strategies to help in all facets of our game which I know will lead to further team success."
 
UP NEXT
 
The Lutes Women's Golf team will take on the Loggers of Puget Sound in a dual meet on Saturday, October 7^th, at Oakbrook Golf Club in Tacoma, Wash.
 
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