Placing only third at the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge at Palos Verdes weeks ago, the top-ranked Bruins had a little bit of payback on their minds.
By winning the Arizona Wildcat Invitational after leading wire-to-wire, the top-ranked UCLA women’s golf team captured its fifth title of six events this season.
The Bruins nabbed a eight-stroke lead at the end of round one. Five strokes were shaved off that lead after round two as second-place Arizona State and third-place USC appeared poised to overtake UCLA.
“After the second round, everybody had little individual things that had been troubling them, so we just addressed those things,” coach Carrie Forsyth said. “We knew what we had to do today. It’s not like you could play poorly in the final round and still win, so we knew we had to play well.”
Freshman Stephanie Kono said that the Bruins’ three-stroke lead at the end of round two could have easily been lost.
“Three strokes is not a lot,” Kono said. “It’s really nothing (compared to) the team total. We just knew we had to play our own game. That’s the only thing we can do and play to the best of our ability. It’s not like “˜Oh, we have to beat this team.’ It’s us posting the best score we can post.”
Thanks to improved putting, the Bruins fired a final low round of the day with a 1-under 287 to cement their title with a total score of 869 (+5).
“A lot more putts went in; that made the difference ultimately,” Forsyth said.
UCLA held off rivals Arizona State and USC, who both registered team totals of 878 (+14) and tied for second place. Oklahoma State’s 888 (+24) allowed them to edge Pepperdine by one stroke for fourth place.
“At the end of the day, we won by more strokes than at the beginning of the day, so that was good,” sophomore Maria Jose Uribe said.
The course at the Peninsula Golf Club, a links-style golf course, tended to get windy.
Kono said that the course was difficult and demanding.
“For ball-striking, you have to hit it well,” Kono said. “(I wanted to) be smart about my tee shot and make sure my first shot was to the proper section of the green where the pin was at.”
Uribe said that because of the wind, the team had to be patient throughout the tournament.
Kono led all UCLA scores, placing fifth individually, with a total score of 1-under 215, only two strokes off the lead. Jodi Ewart of New Mexico and Lizette Salas of USC tied for the individual title at 213.
Kono started the tournament firing a 3-under 69, recording 3 birdies and no bogeys.
“Stephanie looks probably the most consistent of everybody,” Forsyth said. “She hit the ball really well most of the week. She’s really solid, a really solid player.”
Forsyth also said that even though Kono struggled a little bit at the beginning of the final round, she managed to card even par.
The Bruins all scored within a few strokes of one another. Sophomore Glory Yang tied for seventh individually, firing a 70, the Bruins’ lowest score in the final round, and totaling 1-over 217 for the tournament. Uribe carded 71 in the final round, and her total score of 219 earned her a tie in 12th place.
“(I wanted to) go in and try to make as many birdies as I can,” Uribe said about her mentality going into the final round. “I just putted better and made some adjustments with coach.”
Seniors Tiffany Joh and Ryann O’Toole recorded final scores of 222 and 227, tying in 18th and 30th, respectively.
“Everyone had at least one really good round,” Forsyth said. “It was a good team effort.”