Badgers claim second-straight Badger Invitational title

Monday, September 26

University Ridge, Madison, Wis.

All Day

Wisconsin Badgers

BADGER INVITATIONAL

<b>In her college debut, Dana Voss finished sixth</b>

Badgers claim second-straight Badger Invitational title

September 26, 2011 | Women's Golf

Sept. 26, 2011

Watch Video Interview Todd Oehrlein, Jessie Gerry

2011_BadgerInvt_Final_Results

MADISON, Wis. - Despite weather delays and swirling winds over 35 mph, the Wisconsin women's golf team claimed its second-straight Badger Invitational title Monday with a final score of 292-303-313=908 at University Ridge Golf Course.

The score beat out second place SMU by 10 strokes (304-300-314=918). Following SMU in the team standings was Illinois State in third place (310-313-306), finishing 21 shots off the lead and nine strokes ahead of the fourth place Wisconsin B team.

SMU's Felicia Espericueta, the only person under par for the tournament, was the tournament champion with a 1-under 70-72-73= 215 which ties the second best score in Badger Invitational history. Wisconsin's Jessie Gerry , who won the individual title in 2009, finished second in the 2011 Badger Invitational, six strokes behind with a 5-over par 74-70-77=221.

Lindsay Danielson finished fourth, 11 stokes off the lead (69-79-78=226). Danielson's 69 was the best single-round score for any player in the tournament and one of just three scores to break par. (Espericueta and Gerry each turned in a 70.)

Freshman Dana Voss, in her college debut, performed phenomenally for the Badgers, finishing in a tie for sixth place, 18 shots off the lead. Playing for the Wisconsin B team, an additional four-member squad for the Badgers, Voss recorded a 75-76-78=229.

Also making her college debut was redshirt freshman Kimberly Dinh who finished in 10th place, scoring a 73-80-80=233. Fellow redshirt freshman, Abby Busler, finished tied for 13th, posting a 78-79-77=234.

Players battled the weather throughout the tournament including a two-hour rain delay Sunday that pushed off the conclusion of the second round to Monday. Players continued to fight rain and winds gusting up to 35 mph Monday. Mother Nature still couldn't stop Wisconsin from claiming the overall title though, with all nine Badgers who competed, finishing in the top-30.

Wisconsin's Kris Yoo improved one spot in her final round, also finishing in a tie for 13th place (76-80-76=234). Meanwhile, Alyssa Elliott turned in a tournament score of 82-74-85=241, good for 30th place. Elliott's second round score of 74 was the third best score of any individual in the rain-soaked round.

Wisconsin B team member and freshman Aaren Ziegler also improved one spot in the final round, turning in a 78 Monday to finish tied for 18th (80-77-78=235). Fellow Wisconsin B teammate Ellie Arkin finished 28th, posting an 81-79-80=240.

The win is the second straight for Wisconsin and the program's third overall in tournament history.

The Badgers take the next two weeks off from competition before returning to the links Oct. 10-11 at the Lady Northern in French Lick, Ind. The Lady Northern is the preview of the course used for the Big Ten Women's Golf Championships April 27-May 1.

Wisconsin Scores:

WISCONSIN A

2 Jessie Gerry - 74-70-77=221 +5

3 Lindsay Danielson - 69-79-78=226 +10

T10 Kimberly Dinh - 73-80-80=233 +17

T13 Kris Yoo - 76-80-76=234 ++18

T30 Alyssa Elliott - 82-74-85= 241 +25

WISCONSIN B

6 Dana Voss (B) - 75-76-78=229 +13

T13 Abby Busler (B) - 78-79-77=234 +18

T18 Aaren Ziegler (B) - 80-77-78=235 +19

T28 Ellie Arkin (B) - 81-79-80=240 +24