March 19, 2002

LARAMIE, Wyo. -

Led by senior Tara Ludwig and junior Alison McGuire, the Wyoming Cowgirls posted their best tournament finish of the season, placing fifth out of 13 teams at the Oral Roberts University Invitational. Ludwig tied for fifth place individually and McGuire finished in a tie for seventh.

The tournament was originally scheduled for 36 holes, 18 holes each on Monday, March 18 and Tuesday, March 19, but the final round on Tuesday was rained out. Wyoming ended with a 36-over par total of 324. Ludwig fired a four-over par 76, while McGuire was only one stroke back at five-over par 77.

"I'm really proud of how everyone on our team played," said UW women's golf coach Jill Rettinger. "We played so well, we were really looking forward to Tuesday's round, but the weather didn't cooperate.

"This is Tara's (Ludwig) second strong tournament in a row. She finished 26th last week at East Carolina's tournament. Alison (McGuire) was right there with Tara this week, shooting a 77. It was only the fifth round (out of 16 total rounds) this season that we've had two individuals shoot in the 70s in the same round.

"Our fifth-place showing was one of the best tournaments we've had in awhile. This is the type of tournament we can build on for the rest of the season."

Finishing fifth out of 13 teams at the ORU Invitational marked the best finish for the Cowgirls since October of 1999 when Wyoming placed second out of 14 teams at the Texas A&M Corpus Christi Islander.

Host Oral Roberts won the team title, firing a 22-over par round of 310. Heather MacRae of McLennan Community College won the individual title, with a two-under par round of 70. MacRae was the only golfer in the field of 65 golfers to shoot under par.

The ORU Invitational was played on the Battle Creek Golf Club in Broken Arrow, Okla. The course measured 6,128 yards and played to a par of 72.

Wyoming will have a couple of weeks off before returning to action on April 1-2 at the Inland Empire Intercollegiate in Spokane, Wash. Eastern Washington University and Gonzaga University will serve as the hosts for the Inland Empire.

Wyoming Individual Results

Tara Ludwig       Sr. Portland, Ore.    Tied 5th   76 (+4)
Alison McGuire    Jr. Cheyenne, Wyo.    Tied 7th   77 (+5)
Kim Nissen        Jr. Lakewood, Colo.   Tied 31st  84 (+12)
Shala Hanson      Fr. Lake Oswego, Ore. Tied 49th  87 (+15)
Katherine Crowley Sr. Sugar Land, Texas Tied 56th  89 (+17)

Team Standings

1.      Oral Roberts            310
2.      North Texas             315
3.      McLennan CC             316
4.      Southwest Texas State   321
5.      Wyoming                 324
6.      Lamar                   326
7.      McNeese State           329
8.      Idaho State             334
9.      Northeastern Oklahoma   336
10.     Centenary               337
11.     Oklahoma City           340
12.     Missouri-Kansas City    347
13.     Southwest Missouri      356