Courtesy of WKU Athletics
The Lady Tops will be taking on the familiar par-72, 6.411-yard Kampen Course.
Coming off a historic junior season on The Hill, Catie Craig is on the card for Coach Gary. Craig comes into the tournament after a busy summer as she won the 122nd Women’s North and South Amateur Championship. The senior also competed in the U.S. Amateur Tournament for the second-straight year. Catie will be taking on the tournament once again after tying for ninth in it last year.
Bringing in more experience for the tournament is junior Nina McMurtrey. McMurtrey will be set to take on a bigger role on the squad this year. The junior played in six rounds last season and was in the lineup when the Lady Tops dominated the Jennifer Duke Invitational in Cincinnati. This will be McMurtrey’s first time taking on the Boilermaker Classic.
Sydney Hackett makes her way onto the card for the Lady Tops. The junior is looking to step further into a leadership role for the team this year. Hackett turned in four top-20 finishes last year, including two finishes in the top-10. Hackett also competed in some notable tournaments over the summer, including the Sea Island Amateur.
Junior Averi Cline returns to the lineup for the Red and White. Cline, who also had four top-20 finishes last season, is set up for another great year on The Hill. Cline wrapped up her 2023-24 campaign with a 74.8 stroke average and is looking to build on a strong summer of improvement.
The Lady Topper lineup will be rounded out by freshman Kaylee Dwyer. The four-time Illinois State qualifier and three-tiime IHSA regional champion is looking to make her mark early in West Lafayette. Dwyer is one of three new signees for Coach Gary’s team this year and the Illinois native will be sure to have a strong debut for the Red and White.
Competing as an individual is another new face on The Hill, Julia Zigrossi. The James Madison transfer will be getting her first look at action this season in West Lafayette as an individual. Zigrossi is coming off of a freshmen campaign where she played 17 rounds and accumulated a stroke average of 76.88.
Head Coach Adam Gary spoke about the start of the 2024-25 campaign, “I’m excited to start this season this week,” said Gary. “The team played great in qualifying, and the newcomers are gaining some valuable experience daily.” Gary continued, “Also having some returners that played this course last year will really help.”
The two-day tournament will tee off on Monday morning. The 18-hole round one is set for an 9:00 A.M. tee time.
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