Pioneers Wrap Up 13th Place Finish at Regional Challenge

LAS VERDES, Fla. — The seventh-ranked University of Denver women’s golf team shot a final round 27-over par 311 Wednesday and finished in 13th place at the Northrup Grumman Regional Challenge held at Palos Verdes Golf Club. The Pioneers, playing their first competitive tournament since November, shot 316-303-311 – 930 in the 54-hole event and finished back in the pack. Second-ranked UCLA won with a 24-over par total of 876, defeating runner-up Florida by seven shots (931).

Pacing the Pioneers was junior Katie Kempter (Albuquerque, N.M.), who shot 79-76-76 – 231 (18-over par) to finish the tournament in a tie for 38th place. Kempter’s final round score of 76 was DU’s best on Wednesday.

Next for the Pioneers was sophomore Stephanie Sherlock (Barrie, Ontario), who shot a final round 80 and 54-hole score of 232 to finish in a tie for 43rd. Junior Dawn Shockley (Estes Park, Colo.) finished in a tie for 57th; and senior Chelsea Benton (Englewood, Colo.) and freshman Ellie Givens (Darlington, England) finished tied for 63rd to round out DU’s scorers.

Being from warm-weather climates seriously helped the teams in the tournament, as 11 of the 15 schools in the event come from warmer climates and those schools took each of the top 11 spots. BYU finished 12th (925) followed by Denver (930), Michigan State (939) and Ohio State (942).

DU is next in action beginning Friday, March 7 when the Pioneers tee it up at the Texas A&M “Mo” Morial at Traditions Golf Club in College Station, Texas.