Last season, the Michigan women’s golf team had just five top-five finishes.

But after four tournaments this year, the Wolverines already have three, thanks to a successful final round at the Lady Northern Invitational this past weekend.

Sitting in ninth place after two rounds, the Wolverines made a late push and posted a 312 team score Sunday to finish in the top five yet again.

“We didn’t shoot 300, but it was still great to move up four spots," said junior Ashley Bauer, who finished seventh overall (226). "We didn’t fall apart.”

The Wolverines finished 42 strokes behind tournament champion and host Purdue (895).

One of the big reasons Michigan moved up four spots Sunday was because its underclassmen stepped up on the windy Kampen Course in West Lafayette.

Freshman Milena Savich, who shot a 7-over par 79, and sophomores Katelin Davis (5-over) and Min Yean Tan (7-over) all impressed Michigan coach Kathy Teichert.

"The shots and decisions that they make defy their youth," Teichert said. "They’re young but experienced. We’re moving up the ladder and building consistency.

"When you have as much youth as we do, it’s easy to get frustrated. (But) they’re having fun and they’re happy, and they’re performing better."

This weekend, Michigan travels to Wilmington, N.C. for The Landfall Tradition, where the Wolverines finished last in a field of 12 teams a year ago.

But with the team performing much better in tournaments this season, Teichert had one word to describe how she thinks Michigan will finish next week: "Better."