GBI Magazine

Golf squads gathering momentum for postseason Adam Schenk has led a resurmedal honors with a 5-over par threegent Purdue men's golf team in round total while Reto and freshman the past few weeks, rebounding Aurora Kan finished in a tie for fifth. from early-season struggles as the Michigan State won the event, finBoilers make their way towards the ishing seven strokes ahead of the Boilpostseason. ermakers. Purdue has improved over the It has been a tough spring for Purpast three events, posting lower due, as it has battled inclement weathscores in each tournament, capped er conditions throughout the spring, by a fourth-place finish at the Boilmaking practice a difficult endeavor. ermaker Invitational. It was the fi"It can be tough on your game, not nal event for the Boilers before the being able to get out on the course evBig Ten Championships on April ery day," Gonzalez-Escallon said. "It re26-28 in French Lick. ally hurts your short game. But I think Schenk has posted a team-leaddealing with the weather we have had ing stroke average of 73.50 in 10 can be both a positive and a negative. Tom Campbell I think it makes us more motivated to tournaments this season. His eventhe most par 216 paced Purdue at the Boiler- Junior Adam Schenk has been men's get out there and compete. consistent Boilermaker on the maker Invitational, good enough for squad with four top-10 finishes in 10 "We have been pretty solid this seaa tie for fourth place individually. outings. son, and we just need to play our game On the women's side, Paula Reto and not allow ourselves to be bothered and Laura Gonzalez-Escallon have teamed up to lead the by the weather. If we focus on each shot and each round, 10th-ranked Boilermakers this spring, with both captur- we expect to win the Big Ten championship." ing individual tournament wins as of the third week of Brouse will be looking for his sixth women's Big Ten April. title since 2000 and the fourth since 2008. The BoilerPurdue finished second at the Buckeye Invitational in makers last won the crown in 2010. its final tune-up before the Big Ten Championships on — Brandan Alford April 26-28. Gonzalez-Escallon captured the individual personal friends, and having her around has to be very comforting for Margaux. She has been like a big sister to show her the ropes around here and has been a big part of Margaux's adjustment." Gonzalez-Escallon, who has enjoyed a highly successful four-year career at Purdue, has known Vanmol for many years after growing up together in nearby towns in Belgium. Both played competitively in youth tours, and Gonzalez-Escallon became an important resource for Vanmol as she considered her collegiate opportunities. "I really love Purdue, and I thought this could be a good opportunity for her here," Gonzalez-Escallon said. "This is a team full of international players and we relate well together. We like to travel together and we get along well." Gonzalez-Escallon's input in the decision-making process clearly had an impact on Vanmol, and her presence on the team has provided a welcome sense of home for Vanmol throughout her freshman year. But that didn't make the transition easy. "That first month here was hard," Vanmol said. "Coming from Belgium, where you can get all the way through the country in three to four hours, it took me a while to adjust. It would take me an hour to get to Wal-Mart (here)." Having undergone the same growing pains three years earlier, Gonzalez-Escallon has worked to provide the kind of support that she could have used as a freshman studying and competing abroad. "She has adjusted to the changes well," Gonzalez-Es- Gold & Black IllustrateD • volume 23, issue 5com

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