Results (PDF)

TAMPA, Fla. -- Despite not officially playing on the links since late last October, the Eastern Illinois women's golf squad earned an impressive fifth place finish at the 13-team Northern Illinois Snowbird.

The meet was the spring opener for the Panthers as three EIU players finished in the Top 20 at the Par 72, 5,962-yard Pebblebrook Golf Course in Tampa, Fla.

Shooting a combined 669 (+73), Eastern was led by seniors Katie Imburgia and Jaymie Voorhees, with each firing a 20-over-par 164 to tie for 11th place.

Also finishing in the Top 20 was junior Veronica Bernier, who was just three shots behind the two EIU leaders to tie for 19th.

Rounding out the Panther contingent were freshmen Lauren Williams and Kathryn Koester in 31st and 60th places, respectively.  Fellow newcomer Emily Calhoun played independently, tying for the 28th spot out of 84 total competitors.

Methodist University won the team title with a combined 49-over 645 finish.  Area foes Indiana State and Northern Illinois placed just ahead of Eastern in second and fourth place, respectively.

The Panthers, meanwhile, finished ahead of Western New mexico (6th), Loyola (7th), Creighton (8th), and arch-rival Western Illinois (9th), just to name a few.

Eastern will have very little time to rest as they are scheduled to continue their sunshine state twinbill this week, playing in the multi-team Spring Fling Intercollegiate that starts tomorrow (March12) and continues thru Sunday (March 14), facing off against regional rivals Butler and IUPUI. The three-round meet will be played at the Mission Inn Resort & Club in Howey in the Hills, Fla.

... for more info, contact Bart Rettberg, Asst. SID