Valparaiso’s women’s golf team closed their inaugural fall season with a team-record round of 377 on Tuesday afternoon at the Dayton Fall Invitational held at the NEC North Course in Kettering, Ohio.  The Crusaders concluded the 36-hole event with a score of 771, finishing in 10th place.

“I am really proud of this team,” head coach Mike Higdon said afterwards.  “We broke 380 which was the goal I had set for us and we were the most improved team of the tournament, lowering our score by 17 shots over yesterday.”

Cincinnati won the tournament shooting 624 while the Bearcats’ Kate Moore won a playoff for individual honors at 154.

Jessica O’Brien (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton H.S.) led the Crusaders for the tournament shooting 181 for the two rounds over the 6,836-yard, par-70 layout.  She carded a season-low 88 in Tuesday’s final round after shooting 93 on Monday.

Annie Nolan (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso H.S.) turned in Valpo’s low round of the day, and matched her fall best with an 87 on day two to finish the tournament at 183.  Kathleen Cooper (Hobart, Ind./Hobart H.S.) shot her second straight 98 to finish the event at 196.

“After a solid round today this gives us some momentum going into the spring championships season,” Higdon concluded.  “We will continue to work hard throughout the winter.”