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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico women’s golf team opened their season with an eighth place finish at three-over 867 (299-285-283) at the 2016 Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational.
Despite the team’s finish not being what they expected, Head Coach Jill Trujillo saw the team displaying their potential:
“Shooting 5-under today, and 3-under in round 2 shows what kind of team this is. Just a little bit of nerves and not staying in the present cost us a bit in that first round,” began tenth year head coach Jill Trujillo.
Overall, this was a record setting year for the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational. The 2016 installment got off to a blistering start, and kept up the momentum despite Mother Nature’s best attempts to lull the competition.
The Lobos were led by Sophomore Darian Zachek’s T17 finish at 1-under 215 (74-73-68). Zachek posted a 4-under 68 today, her round included a lone bogey. To close out the day, Zachek carded two birdies in the final three holes.
Zachek carded twelve birdies, tying her for the fifth most in the field. In addition, her 4.58 par-5 scoring average was the eighth lowest of any individual. Zachek also racked up a top-15 statistical performance in her par-3 scoring average of 2.92, which placed her in a tie for twelfth best of the week.
“That’s the kind of player that I know Darian is, and can be. That 68 was pretty competitive for her… She’s worked really hard in the summer, her short game has improved immensely,” Trujillo recounted.
Another Lobo finishing inside the top-25 was Manon Mollé, who finished 24th overall all at even-par 216 (75-69-72) for the tournament. Mollé was also able to finish strong, closing her round with a pair of birdies in her final four holes. Mollé did the greatest amount of damage on the par-5’s, she carried a scoring average of 4.75 through this year’s competition.
Ingrid Gutierrez had a quiet 73 today, carding 17 pars and a lone bogey. For the tournament she finished at 3-over 219 (76-70-73), in a logjam tie for 37th. The statistical highlight of Gutierrez’s week was her 40 total pars, which tied for ninth-most in the field. Gutierrez also had top-25 statistical performances in par-4 (4.07, T22) and par-5 (4.75, T21) scoring.
Eva Saulnier (73-76-73) and Alexandra Moisand (74-73-75) together made up one half of the four way tie for 51st at 6-over 222.
Saulnier, who competed as an individual, managed to carry a 4.07 par-4 scoring average, tally 38 total pars, and notch six birdies through the course of competition. While Moisand, the team’s second junior, carried scoring averages of 3.08, 4.17 and 5.00 respectively.
Katerina Jaeger (76-82-70) found her stride in the third round, ending her week on a high note by shooting a 2-under par 70 today, shaving twelve strokes off her round 2 score. At day’s end Jaeger found herself in a tie for 74th overall at 12-over 228.
The remaining Lobos, Emma Edwards and Kalyn Thayer, both competed as individuals. Edwards finished T81 at 15-over 231 (78-78-75), while Thayer finished at 23-over for the tournament 239 (81-81-77).
This year’s team title was claimed by Oklahoma State at 20-under 844 (274-287-283). The squad was led by two top-10 performers, while all of the team’s players finished within the top-25.
After 54-holes the team had posted a 20-under mark of 844 on the par-72 course, breaking the previous scoring record. That record was set two short years ago by the then-defending NCAA Champion Stanford Cardinals. Stanford that week posted a 20-under 856 on a par-73 layout.
Arizona State edged out the Bears of Baylor by a one stroke, laying claim to sole possession of second place. The Sun Devils were propelled by the top-5 performance of Monica Vaughn, who finished the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational at 10-under 206 (67-66-73).
The teams Baylor (-10), Northwestern (-9), and Arizona (-3) round out the tournament’s top-5.
Ester Lee, this year’s Individual Medalist, set the new scoring record by six strokes. Joining Lee in the record books are the ladies of Oklahoma State, who eclipsed the team scoring record by an impressive 12 strokes.
The storm began in the first round with Ester Lee’s 11-under mark of 61, which ties the Colorado senior for the lowest round in NCAA women’s history. Although the birdie-fest slowed, it never stopped. Lee eventually finished the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational at 18-under 198 (61-69-68).
The 54-hole total of 18-under is the lowest individual score in relation to par in tournament history. Lee’s mark shattered the previous record of 12-under posted by a pair of Oregon Ducks. Cassy Isagawa (2013), and Kendra Little (2009).
Previously the University of New Mexico’s Championship course played as a par-73 layout. The 54-hole total of 198 supersedes the previous record of 207, which was posted by the aforementioned Ducks, as the lowest three-day total in the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational’s long and storied history.
The previous scoring record was 20-under 856 (2014 Stanford, par-73), this year’s championship broke that record by twelve strokes. Oklahoma State came in with an identical 20-under team score, but since this year’s par layout was 72, the team was able to set a new 54-hole scoring record (844), despite tying with the 2014 Stanford Cardinal for lowest relation to par (-20).
“Some hefty performances by some really great programs. We always try to have the best teams in the country here, and they proved to be with the scores that they shot… We hung right in there with everyone so I’m pretty happy about that, I think they all played really great.” concluded Trujillo.
Lobos Close Season Opener With 8th Place Performance
