• Final Results (.pdf)

MESA, Ariz. (May 15) – California University of Pennsylvania sophomore Dianne Luke (Mirisarawak, Malaysia/Saint Columba) led all players with a one-under 70 (35-35) on Saturday in the fourth round of the NCAA Division II National Championships, as the Vulcans finished the four-round event at the Longbow Golf Club in eighth place in the team standings.

Competing in its first-ever National Championships as a team, Cal U totaled a score of 132-over 1268 (317-321-320-310) to finish eighth overall at the 12-team event. Nova Southeastern, who led wire-to-wire, claimed its second-straight national title after shooting a 44-over 1180 (298-285-296-301) to win the event by 40 strokes. Junior Sandra Changkija of the Sharks also was the individual National Champion with an even-par 284 (74-67-71-72).

Luke moved up over a dozen places on the individual leaderboard on the final day to finish the 72-golfer event 12th overall with a 21-over 305 (78-81-76-70). She opened Saturday by collecting a pair of birdies and a bogey on her first three holes before making the turn at one-under 35 following a birdie on the par-three 16th. On the back nine, Luke shot a pair of birdies between back-to-back bogeys before finishing the tournament with a birdie on her last hole, the par-four, 411-yard 9th. As a freshman last season, the Malaysia native finished tied for 25th overall at National Championships after qualifying as an individual.

Freshman Maria Lopez (Bogota, Colombia/English School) and junior Jenna Rothermel (Danville, Pa./Danville) both finished tied for 39th overall with four-round scores of 35-over 319. Lopez (82-82-79-76) posted her best round of the week on Saturday, shooting a five-over 76 (38-38) after managing 12 pars. She totaled five bogeys in the round, but was unable to collect a birdie to lower her score. Rothermel (79-76-79-85) also was unable to tally a birdie in the fourth round after shooting 11 bogeys and a triple bogey on the par-four 12th.

Freshman Lorena Aranda (Trujillo, Peru/San Jose Obrero Marianistats) shaved 10 strokes off her third-round total after carding an 11-over 82 (45-37) on Saturday. After shooting double bogeys on her first two holes, she shot a three-over on the next holes before making the turn at nine-over 45. On her final nine holes of the tournament, she managed seven pars and two bogeys to finish the week ranked 63rd on the leaderboard at 57-over 341 (85-82-92-82).

Fellow freshman Karina Palmberg (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Objetivo) shot an 11-over 82 (42-40) during the final round after opening with a five-over through the first five holes. After double bogeys on her first two holes, she managed a par on the par-four 12th before collecting a birdie on the par-four 13th.

The Vulcans, who have won two-straight Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships, are scheduled to return all nine golfers for the 2010-11 season.