After a few months in hibernation, No. 20 Northwestern resumed its repeat title quest with a seventh-place finish at the Purdue Puerto Rico Classic in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. Senior Dianna Lee finished in a three-way tie for fifth place individually.
After placing fourth in the event last year, the Wildcats were well on their way to another top-five finish after shooting 11-under through two rounds Sunday.
However, after notching a round of 6-over Monday, NU dropped from fourth to seventh. The six teams that finished ahead of the ’Cats are all ranked.
Lee garnered her top-five finish by shooting a 6-under 210. Her best round came on her second run through the course, when she carded a 4-under-68.
During the second round, she made four birdies and no bogeys. After sitting nine-under for the weekend through nine holes of the third round, three bogeys on the back nine took her over par for the round and into the tie for fifth place.
After a promising start to the weekend, the third round proved to be especially difficult for most of the field. In the first two rounds combined, the ‘Cats carded 10 bogeys and one double bogey. In the final round, NU posted 14 bogeys and one triple bogey.
An average of 11 teams scored under par during the first two rounds, while just four teams sat under par in the third round.
Sophomore Hsin Tai Lin finished in a five-way tie for 24th, carding a 2-under 214. After bogeying the first hole of the tournament, she recovered and shot a 4-under-68, which would stand as her best round of the tournament. She shot a 1-over-73 during both the second and third rounds.
Junior Ashley Yun and sophomore Megan Meng both shot 2-over 218, tying them in 44th. Yun posted an even par in the first round, two-under in the second round and four-over in the third round. Meng finished 1-over through the first two rounds and even par in her final round.
Senior Jiayi Wang posted a 14-over 230. Her best round was her first, when she shot an even-par 72.
The ’Cats head to Sarasota, Florida, for the Spartan Suncoast Invitational Feb. 15 to 16.
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— Women’s Golf: Lee wins individual title as Northwestern loses East Lake Cup final to No. 3 Oregon
— Women’s Golf: Northwestern finishes 12th at Stanford Intercollegiate
— Women’s Golf: Northwestern ties for first place at Windy City Collegiate Classic
