EAST LANSING, Mich. – Entering the final round eight shots back of host Michigan State, Purdue Women's Golf flipped the script and emerged victorious. The Boilermakers fired a final round 284 (-4) to win the Mary Fossum Invitational by 10 strokes, remaining undefeated on the 2023-24 campaign after also taking the title at the season-opening Boilermaker Classic.
Purdue was 6-under (290-284-284—858) on the par 72 West Course at Forest Akers GC, the only team to finish under par and just one shot off the tournament record. The Boilermakers defeated a field of 14 other teams that included five Big Ten programs. The three-round total also cracked the Top 10 for one of the lowest 54-hole scores in program history.
The difference may have been Purdue's play on the par 4s throughout the tournament. The Boilermakers played those holes a combined 5-over to lead all teams, including 16 shots better than Michigan State. Purdue also paced the field in par-3 scoring (-2) and birdies, making 47 as a team.
Four Boilermakers finished in the Top 10 of the individual leaderboard. Ashley Kozlowski led the way, ending the tournament at 2-under to place runner-up for the second time in her career. The Littleton, Colorado, native fired a final round 70, tied for Purdue's lowest round, making five birdies throughout the day. She played the par 4s 1-under par over the three rounds to rank second in par-4 scoring.
Kan Bunnabodee earned her second Top 5 of the season, tying for fourth at even par (72-71-73—216). The veteran Boilermaker made 13 birdies over her 54 holes, leading the entire field. She paced the field in par-3 scoring as well, playing the short holes 2-under. Bunnabodee also dominated the par 5s, going 5-under on them to rank second in par-5 scoring. The performance was the sixth Top 10 of her career to tie Kozlowski for the most on the team.
Jocelyn Bruch continued her strong start to the season, tying for seventh (+1) for her second Top 10 of the 2023-24 campaign. After an opening-round 76 (+4), she bounced back with back-to-back under-par rounds of 70 (-2) and 71 (-1). Bruch found the majority of her success on the par 4s, leading the field by playing them 3-under par.
Playing her best golf in her brief tenure as a Boilermaker, Natasha Kiel tied for ninth at 2-over (73-72-73—218). The Vanderbilt transfer ranked second in par-4 scoring, playing the holes under-par (-1). She ended her tournament with a birdie to sneak into the Top 10 for the first time in her Purdue career.
Aside from an uncharacteristic second round, Momo Sugiyama produced her eighth Top 20 finish in only her 14th tournament as a Boilermaker. The junior matched Kozlowski for Purdue's best final round, carding a 70 (-2) to move 23 spots up the leaderboard and into a tie for 19th.
Now a perfect 2-for-2 this fall, the Boilermakers have won multiple tournaments in a season for the first time since the 2016-17 campaign. The team title also marked Purdue's third tournament title in just the second season under head coach Zack Byrd.
Purdue wastes no time returning to tournament action, heading to Norman, Oklahoma this weekend for the Schooner Fall Classic (Sept. 23-25).
BOILERMAKERS
2. Ashley Kozlowski: 73-71-70—214 (-2)
T4. Kan Bunnabodee: 72-71-73—216 (E)
T7. Jocelyn Bruch: 76-70-71—217 (+1)
T9. Natasha Kiel: 73-72-73—218 (+2)
T19. Momo Sugiyama: 72-79-70—221 (+5)
TEAM LEADERBOARD
1. Purdue: 290-284-284—858 (-6)
2. Michigan State: 285-281-302—868 (+4)
3. Ohio State: 292-289-298—879 (+15)
4. Maryland: 299-293-289—881 (+17)
5. Tennessee: 293-292-299—884 (+20)
T6. Nebraska: 290-298-300—888 (+24)
T6. Virginia Tech: 295-294-299—888 (+24)
T6. Kent State: 294-304-290—888 (+24)
9. North Carolina: 299-301-290—890 (+26)
10. Michigan: 292-306-301—899 (+35)
11. Notre Dame: 301-301-301—903 (+39)
12. Northern Illinois: 297-317-302—916 (+52)
13. Toledo: 305-313-312—930 (+66)
14. Grand Valley State: 311-316-314—941 (+77)
15. Oakland: 310-321-312—943 (+79)
Purdue was 6-under (290-284-284—858) on the par 72 West Course at Forest Akers GC, the only team to finish under par and just one shot off the tournament record. The Boilermakers defeated a field of 14 other teams that included five Big Ten programs. The three-round total also cracked the Top 10 for one of the lowest 54-hole scores in program history.
The difference may have been Purdue's play on the par 4s throughout the tournament. The Boilermakers played those holes a combined 5-over to lead all teams, including 16 shots better than Michigan State. Purdue also paced the field in par-3 scoring (-2) and birdies, making 47 as a team.
Four Boilermakers finished in the Top 10 of the individual leaderboard. Ashley Kozlowski led the way, ending the tournament at 2-under to place runner-up for the second time in her career. The Littleton, Colorado, native fired a final round 70, tied for Purdue's lowest round, making five birdies throughout the day. She played the par 4s 1-under par over the three rounds to rank second in par-4 scoring.
Kan Bunnabodee earned her second Top 5 of the season, tying for fourth at even par (72-71-73—216). The veteran Boilermaker made 13 birdies over her 54 holes, leading the entire field. She paced the field in par-3 scoring as well, playing the short holes 2-under. Bunnabodee also dominated the par 5s, going 5-under on them to rank second in par-5 scoring. The performance was the sixth Top 10 of her career to tie Kozlowski for the most on the team.
Jocelyn Bruch continued her strong start to the season, tying for seventh (+1) for her second Top 10 of the 2023-24 campaign. After an opening-round 76 (+4), she bounced back with back-to-back under-par rounds of 70 (-2) and 71 (-1). Bruch found the majority of her success on the par 4s, leading the field by playing them 3-under par.
Playing her best golf in her brief tenure as a Boilermaker, Natasha Kiel tied for ninth at 2-over (73-72-73—218). The Vanderbilt transfer ranked second in par-4 scoring, playing the holes under-par (-1). She ended her tournament with a birdie to sneak into the Top 10 for the first time in her Purdue career.
Aside from an uncharacteristic second round, Momo Sugiyama produced her eighth Top 20 finish in only her 14th tournament as a Boilermaker. The junior matched Kozlowski for Purdue's best final round, carding a 70 (-2) to move 23 spots up the leaderboard and into a tie for 19th.
Now a perfect 2-for-2 this fall, the Boilermakers have won multiple tournaments in a season for the first time since the 2016-17 campaign. The team title also marked Purdue's third tournament title in just the second season under head coach Zack Byrd.
Purdue wastes no time returning to tournament action, heading to Norman, Oklahoma this weekend for the Schooner Fall Classic (Sept. 23-25).
BOILERMAKERS
2. Ashley Kozlowski: 73-71-70—214 (-2)
T4. Kan Bunnabodee: 72-71-73—216 (E)
T7. Jocelyn Bruch: 76-70-71—217 (+1)
T9. Natasha Kiel: 73-72-73—218 (+2)
T19. Momo Sugiyama: 72-79-70—221 (+5)
TEAM LEADERBOARD
1. Purdue: 290-284-284—858 (-6)
2. Michigan State: 285-281-302—868 (+4)
3. Ohio State: 292-289-298—879 (+15)
4. Maryland: 299-293-289—881 (+17)
5. Tennessee: 293-292-299—884 (+20)
T6. Nebraska: 290-298-300—888 (+24)
T6. Virginia Tech: 295-294-299—888 (+24)
T6. Kent State: 294-304-290—888 (+24)
9. North Carolina: 299-301-290—890 (+26)
10. Michigan: 292-306-301—899 (+35)
11. Notre Dame: 301-301-301—903 (+39)
12. Northern Illinois: 297-317-302—916 (+52)
13. Toledo: 305-313-312—930 (+66)
14. Grand Valley State: 311-316-314—941 (+77)
15. Oakland: 310-321-312—943 (+79)