Athas Nears Milestone as ISU Opens Spring

AMES, Iowa ? The Iowa State women's golf team opens up its spring season this weekend at the three-day Lady Puerto Rico Classic in Rio Grande. The Cyclones will be part of a 16-team field at the par-72, 6,000 yard Coco Beach Golf Course. Iowa State has already faced several squads slated to compete including Indiana, Oklahoma, Purdue, TCU and Wisconsin. Teams will begin play at 7 a.m. Friday and play through Sunday. The event is hosted by Purdue and boasts some of the toughest competition in the nation, featuring sixth-ranked Auburn and ninth-ranked Oklahoma State.

Senior Christi Athas, one of Iowa State's most prolific performers, is ready to add another feat to her extensive list of career accomplishments. The Eldora, Iowa, native is tied with Cathy Ennis (1997-2001) for 10^th place in most rounds played with 99. With Athas' performance this weekend, she will pass Ennis and move within one round of Laura Wells' (1999-2003) 103 career rounds. Athas has compiled four top-10 finishes in her prolific career, the most recent a 10^th-place showing at the Sunflower Invitational in October. She has also fired ISU's three lowest tournament rounds, scoring a 69, 70 and 71 in 2006.

Pennapa Pulsawath will be looking to carry momentum from an impressive fall freshman campaign. Pulsawath was the team leader in scoring average (77.33) and debuted by placing 10^th in her first event, the Lady Badger Invitational in October.

Karly Pinder had ISU's top finish in two of four fall events, including top-10 finishes at the Sunflower Invitational and the Edwin Watts/Palmetto Invitational. Jessica Shin finished off fall action in impressive fashion at the Aloha Purdue Invite with her best finish of the season, placing 16^th.

The Cyclones will be in College Station, Texas, March 9-11 for the A&M “Mo” Morial.

Event Notables

- The Cyclones carry a 2-1 record against Wisconsin, falling only to the Badgers at their home course at the Lady Badger Invitational in October

- Two SEC schools, Florida (2006 team champion) and Arkansas (2006 tournament medalist Amanda McCurdy) will not compete

- Host school Purdue is the top team returning from last year's Lady Puerto Rico Classic, claiming runner-up honors behind the Gators

- Boilermaker Christina Boeljon is last year's top-returning finisher, placing fourth and is ranked 37^th in Golfweek's Feb. 15 rankings.

- Purdue's Maria Hernandez comes in as the tournament's top-ranked player, rated 11^th by Golfweek

- Iowa State finished 14^th out of 16 teams at the 2006 Lady Puerto Rico Classic

Participating Teams

Alabama

Auburn

Central Florida

Georgia

Indiana

Iowa State

Kent State

Minnesota

N.C. State

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State

Purdue

South Carolina

TCU

Texas Tech

Wisconsin

Low 18-Hole Tournament (Individual)

69 ? Athas (2006 Mountain View Collegiate)

70 ? Athas (2006 Northwestern Invitational)

71 ? Athas (2006 Northwestern Invitational)

Most Career Rounds Played

121 ? Maureen Roushar (1989-94)

117 ? Louise Kenney (2001-05)

115 ? Missy Arthur (1991-93)

114 ? Beth Bader (1992-96)

108 ? Connie Carlson (1980-84)

106.5 ? Kim Kessler (1984-88)

106 ? Noel Jacobusse (1984-88)

105.5 ? Mary Jo Cunningham (1978-82)

103 ? Laura Wells (1999-03)

99 ? Cathy Ennis (1997-2001)

99 ? Christi Athas (2002- )

Athas Nears Milestone as ISU Opens Spring

Players Mentioned

Christi Athas

Christi Athas

Karly Pinder

Karly Pinder

Pennapa Pulsawath

Jessica Shin

Jessica Shin

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics

Athas Nears Milestone as ISU Opens Spring

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Players Mentioned

Christi Athas

Christi Athas

Karly Pinder

Karly Pinder

Pennapa Pulsawath

Jessica Shin

Jessica Shin

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