University Star

The Texas State women’s golf team took home a ninth-place finish in its third tournament of the season.

The Bobcats traveled to Columbia, Mo. Monday and Tuesday to compete in the Johnie Imes Invitational. Before the tournament, Texas State was ranked fourth as a team in the Southland Conference with three players in the top 10 and one in the top five.

The Bobcats competed against 15 teams on the par-72, 6,204-yard course for three rounds.

Coach Mike Akers said Texas State looks to improve for its next tournament, despite the ninth-place finish.

 “I have mixed emotions about our finish,” Akers said in a press release. “The teams at this event were very good. We picked up some nice wins, but I think we will play better.”

Texas State finished the tournament with a 49-over-par, 913 score. The Bobcats beat Baylor, Princeton, Missouri State, Illinois State, Missouri and Nebraska. Top finishers for the tournament included Oklahoma State, which placed first with a 1-under-par, 863. Colorado and Oklahoma tied for second with a 14-over-par, 878.

Trine Mortensen, accounting senior, led the Bobcats with an 8-over par, 224 for the tournament, finishing tied for 20th place. Krista Puisite, undecided freshman, Mara Puisite, computer information systems freshman, Caitlin Bliss, health and wellness senior, and Gabby de Reuck, mass communication junior, competed for the Bobcats.

Marlee Wilson, junior, played as an individual in the tournament and shot a 261 total for an 84th-place finish.

Akers said the Bobcats must improve during their upcoming four-week break from competition.

“We have a month to get healthy and prepare to host some outstanding teams,” Akers said in a press release. “Our schedule this season is extremely difficult, so I hope we rise to the challenge and build momentum toward late spring. We have missed Valdis (Jonsdottir) in the lineup, but I think she is getting closer every day to getting back.”

The team’s next tournament, the Challenge at Onion Creek, takes place Nov. 1 to Nov. 2 in Austin.