Sept. 21, 2004

INDIANAPOLIS - Cleveland State junior Kristen Obush (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) wrapped up her third career tournament title with a final round 78 at the Butler Fall Invitational on Tuesday. Obush stood in second after shooting rounds of 78 and 77 on the first day of competition at the 6,076-yard, par 72 Pines Course at Eagle Creek GC. However, her closing score put her three shots clear of her closest competitors at 233.

Obush also claimed medalist honors in the Bucknell Lady Bison Classic and the Malone Fall Invitational as a freshman in 2002-03.

"I really put three good rounds together and finished strong by going one-under for the final nine holes today," Obush noted. "The hardest part was finishing earlier than the other leaders and trying not to scoreboard watch while I was waiting."

"I'm so happy for Kristen to get a win in a big tournament like this," CSU head coach Tom Porten said. "She's becoming the consistent player that I always thought she'd be. I think she's got a great chance to win a lot of tournaments before her career is over."

The Vikings finished fifth in the six-team field with a 54-hole total of 1,039. Butler claimed the team total with a 952.

Individually, Butler's Niki Garden and Western Kentucky's Sarah Colbert were Obush's closest challengers at 236.

Cleveland State is off for two weeks before travelling to the Northern Illinois Huskie Classic on Oct. 3-4.

Team Scores:
1. Butler 309-322-321--952
2. Youngstown State 318-324-331--974
3. Western Kentucky 328-321-334--983
4. Evansville 336-333-322--991
5. Cleveland State 341-332-366--1,039

CSU Individual Scores:
1. Kristen Obush 78-77-78--233
T28. Amanda Gladfelter 90-82-97--269
T28. Mollie Porter 87-88-94--269
T32. Trish Randall 86-89-97--272
36. Lexi Retzer 97-85-97--279