SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Freshman Arianna Gastelum (Chula Vista, Calif.) fired a career-low 72 to spark the Drake women's golf team to a 305 scorecard after 18 holes of the Missouri Valley Conference Championship at the Panther Creek Golf Club on Sunday (April 20).
The Bulldogs collected their lowest score of the spring campaign and third-best effort of the year to find themselves tied for sixth with Evansville and Missouri State.
“Everyone played very solid today as only giving up a few shots down the stretch kept us from recording our best round of the year,” Drake head coach Leanne Smith commented. “I was pleased we were able to put together such a solid round as it has been a struggle this spring battling through illness and injury.
Gastelum's performance matched senior Hadley Jennings (Trenton, Mo.) for Drake's low round of the year, while sending her into the tournament's second round tied for fourth place.
“Arianna (Gastelum) was super solid today as I felt she managed her game very well and stuck to her game plan and didn't get flustered,” said Smith. “I was impressed with her performance with this being her first MVC Championship.”
Junior Danielle Brooks (Red Wing, Minn.) carded a 77 during the opening round to sit tied for 26th place.
Collecting a career-low score of 78 to maintain a tie for 32nd place was sophomore Katie Clausen (Hinton, Iowa).
“Katie (Clausen) had a great round and held it together for us down the stretch,” Smith explained. “She will have more of these rounds as she gets more experience.”
Jennings matched Clausen with an opening-round 78.
Junior Ashley Brooks (Red Wing, Minn.) rounded out Drake's efforts on the course with a 94.
The Bulldogs take to the course for round two of the MVC Championship on Monday (April 21). Tee times begin play starting at 9:00 a.m.
DRAKE RESULTS: Arianna Gastelum (72/T-4th), Danielle Brooks (77/T-26th), Katie Clausen (78/T-32nd), Hadley Jennings (78/T-32nd) and Ashley Brooks (94/50th).
MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
APRIL 20, 2014 • SPRINGFIELD, ILL.
18 HOLES
1) Bradley – 293
2) Indiana State – 296
3) Wichita State – 297
4) Illinois State – 297
5) Southern Illinois – 300
6) Drake – 305
Evansville – 305
Missouri State – 305
9) Northern Iowa – 307
10) Loyola – 311
