At the annual Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge, the second-ranked UCLA women’s golf team competed against 10 of the top 25 teams in the nation.
After a solid start had them in second place going into the final round, the Bruins struggled Tuesday and finished tied for fourth place with Washington.
“We’re not very happy with our finish in the tournament,” said coach Carrie Forsyth. “But that was all based on how we played today, in today’s round. Poor by our standards as a team.”
Winning the tournament by seven strokes were the top-ranked USC Women of Troy, but the big story came from the performance of one particular sophomore. Annie Park dominated the competition, beating her nearest individual opponent by the same margin her school surpassed Duke to win the tournament.
Going forward, Forsyth wants her players to emphasize practicing with intensity and focus with tournament-like pressure and conditions in mind.
“So that when we get out there we’ll be prepared to play at the intense level of competition,” Forsyth said.
The Bruins will look to freshman Alison Lee and junior Erynne Lee, ranked No. 1 and No. 3, respectively, for individual women’s play according to Golfweek.com, to lift them back up and carry them throughout the season. Freshman Bronte Law, coming to UCLA from the birthplace of golf in the United Kingdom, tied for third place in the tournament.
Compiled by Jamison Tate Ball, Bruin Sports contributor.