Throughout the UCF Challenge, UCLA and Arizona State jockeyed for first place, playing at the RedTail Golf Club in Sorrento, Florida. After taking a two-stroke lead after the first round, the top-ranked UCLA women’s golf team trailed No. 2 Arizona State entering the final round.
But freshman Stephanie Kono stepped up for UCLA after firing a 6-under 66 in the final round, leading the Bruins to their sixth victory in seven events of the season. Kono’s final round score that featured seven birdies also catapulted her from being tied for 12th after the second round to nabbing the individual championship.
UCLA registered a score of 281 (-7) in the final round, the lowest team total of the day, topping Arizona State by eight strokes in the round.
The Bruins totaled a blistering 850 (-14) overall in the tournament. Second-place Arizona State finished at 857 (-7). No. 5 Oklahoma State nabbed third with an 861 (-3). No. 4 USC’s 872 (+8) took fourth. No. 7 Auburn followed close behind with an 874 (+10).
Nationally ranked ninth as an individual, Kono won her second event of her collegiate career, carding a total score of 208 (-8) in the UCF Challenge. She edged out Florida’s Jessica Yadloczky, who led for the previous two rounds, by one stroke. Jennie Lee from Duke was right behind the pair at 210 (-6).
The Bruins won the tournament without three-time All-American Tiffany Joh, who did not qualify for the event. Sophomore Glory Yang tied for fourth after carding 211 (-5), and fellow sophomore Maria Jose Uribe tied for tenth at 214 (-2). Junior Sydnee Michaels, who was sitting in a tie for 47th entering the third round, shot a 2-under 70 to bump her ranking into a tie for 28th at 219 (+3). Maiya Tanaka tied for 49th at 222 (+6) to round out the UCLA lineup. Senior Ryann O’Toole, who competed individually, recorded 232 to come in at 78th in the tournament.