MUSCATINE, Iowa - The University of St. Francis women's golf team keeps getting close but the Saints can't quite get over the hump. Head coach Tom O'Connor's crew finished third, just seven strokes in back of team champion St. Ambrose (IA) in Friday's six-team Iowa Wesleyan College Invitational at the Muscatine Municipal Golf Course.

The Saints have now finished second twice and third twice in four tournaments this fall.

St. Francis fired a team score of 348, its second-lowest total in this fall's first four meets , and finished behind both St. Ambrose (341) and Ashford (IA) who carded a team score of 347. Augustana was fourth at 354, with Carl Sandburg CC placing fifth at 381 and host Iowa Wesleyan sixth at 397.

Freshman Ashleigh Offerman (Joliet Catholic Academy/Elwood, IL) led the Saints for the second straight tournament and shot a personal best 81 on the par 72 layout. Offerman's 81 was also the second-lowest score recorded by a Saint this fall. Offerman placed second overall in the field and was four strokes behind medalist Jordan Davis of Ashford who fired a 77.

Junior Vicky McGowan (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Mokena, IL), who posted the team's low round of the fall with a 79 last week at the Robert Morris University tournament, was second for the Saints at Iowa Wesleyan with an 86. Sophomore Rachael Anderson (Plainfield South H.S./Joliet, IL) was next for USF with a 90, followed by freshman Kali Hale (Joliet Township H.S./Joliet, IL) who had a 91. Freshmen Lindsey Wilson (Rogers H.S./Rogers, AR) and Lauren Bone (Almont H.S./Almont, MI) completed the Saints scoring on the day with rounds of 93 and 96, respectively.

USF continues its swing through eastern Iowa on Saturday and Sunday as the Saints participate in the two-day, 36-hole St. Ambrose University Fighting Bee Classic. Saturday's 18 holes will be contested at Glynns Creek Golf Course in Eldridge and Sunday's final round will be played at Emeis Golf Course in Davenport.