Sept. 18, 2005
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Northwestern's Jennifer Hong (Windermere, Fla./The First Academy) came within a whisker of winning her first college tournament.
Hong, along with Kent State's Becky Wood, finished in a first-place tie among a field of 81 golfers. In the sudden-death playoff, however, Wood made par on the first playoff hole to defeat Hong. Still, Hong's showing helped Northwestern to a third-place finish in the 15-team Mary Fossum Invitational.
The Wildcats also got a stellar performance from junior Alice Kim (Los Angeles, Calif./Brentwood), who finished in a tie for third place, a shot back of Hong with a 5-over 221 (76-73-72). Hong carded rounds of 70, 76 and 74 for her 4-over 220.
Sophomore Brittany Johnston (Akron, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) placed 31st with a 16-over 232 (80-70-82) and sophomore Katie Trachok (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) finished 37th at 18-over (80-79-75=234). Junior Heather Scholten (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) rounded out NU's contingent with a 56th-place finish (23-over 239).
The host Spartans won the event for the fifth time in the event's 23-year history. Michigan State finished 25-over, while SMU was second at 33-over and the Wildcats third at 37-over (306-292-303=901).
Final results can be located at Mary Fossum Invitational.