With every hole that passed for Purdue, though, its once-huge team lead dwindled to nearly nothing in Wilmington, N.C.

Still, the Boilermakers did enough to claim their first NCAA women’s golf team championship.

Purdue held off Southern California on Friday by one stroke to win the team title while Hedwall shot a 68 to claim a four-stroke victory and the individual crown.

The Boilermakers, who shot a 7-over 295 to finish at 1 over, entered the final round with a 7-stroke lead over the Trojans, overcame a late rash of bogeys and wrapped up the title on the final hole.

“I’m not sure that they ever went ahead,” Purdue coach Devon Brouse said. “It was important that we did maintain the lead. Trust me, I checked that live scoring a lot on the back nine and I never saw them ahead. ... It got down to two, then it got down to one, and that’s where it ended.”