Women open spring with top-10 finish in Puerto Rico

Though freshman Courtney Massey is the newest member of the Minnesota women’s golf team — having just joined the team at the beginning of this semester — early signs indicate she may quickly be playing a big role in the Gophers program.
Along with sophomore Teresa Puga, the Carrara, Australia native led Minnesota to a 10th-place finish at the Puerto Rico Invitational on Monday. Massey and Puga each fired 54-hole totals of 13-over 229 to finish in a six-way tie for 18th at Coco Beach Country Club in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
For Puga, a top-20 finish is no surprise. In five fall tournaments, she finished outside the top-20 only once. Her three day total is perhaps even disappointing. Her worst 54-hole total in the fall was 226, and she posted a 74.07 stroke average.
Meanwhile, it was hard to predict how Massey would perform in her collegiate debut. But she followed a team-best opening round 76 with rounds of 74 and 79 to take the guess work out of it — she was ready to play.
Behind Puga’s and Massey’s pace, sophomores Mary Narzisi and Michele Edlin landed in ties for 47th and 69th, respectively. Senior Paige Bromen rebounded from a first round 87 with a 78 and a 79 but finished tied for 76th. Her fellow senior Kelli Berns, playing the event as an individual and finished in a four-way tie for 65th.