LAST COMPETITION - Junior Katie Bakken (Brooklyn Center, Minn./Brooklyn Center) placed eighth to lead the Golden Gophers to a ninth-place finish at the Midwest Classic in Dallas, Texas, Feb. 25-27. Bakken shot a four-over- par 76 in the final round to end at 236. She moved up from 23rd after the first round and 17th after the second round to finish in eighth place.

Sophomore Cindy Cannon (Big Lake, Minn./Monticello) was Minnesota's second finisher, tying for 34th at 247. Sophomore Megan Stier (Belle Plaine, Minn./Belle Plaine) was right behind at 248, with newcomer Karyn Stordahl (Owatonna, Minn./Owatonna) at 252. Newcomer Kirstin Whalen (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) was 61st at 256.

Texas Christian won the team title with a score of 936, and the school also earned the top individual finish: Angela Stanford at 226.

Michigan State was the highest Big Ten Conference team, placing third at 945.

STORDAHL LEADS THE TEAM IN THE FALL SEASON - Karyn Stordahl competed in all five fall tournaments for Minnesota, leading the team with a 77.77 stroke average in 13 rounds. That mark is the 17th-best fall average in Minnesota history. Stordahl had four finishes in the top seven, including a low three-round score of 227, Minnesota's second-best 54-hole total of the season.

STIER STARTS STRONG - Sophomore Megan Stier started the season on a high note, tying for first at the Minnesota Invitational. She pushed Eastern Michigan's Stephanie Smoot to six playoff holes before falling. Stier finished the fall season second on the team in stroke average (79.00).

STARTING OUT RIGHT - The Gophers won the Minnesota Invitational on Sept. 13 at the Les Bolstad Golf Course, outlasting Eastern Michigan in one playoff hole. Minnesota rebounded from a seven-shot deficit in the final round to force the playoff.

UP NEXT - Minnesota competes at the University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine Invitational in Oahu, Hawaii, March 28- 30.