Thursday, February 13, 1997
W. GOLF:
Sandolo helped team finish second in best performance of yearBy
Chris Umpierre
Daily Bruin Contributor
After some mediocre performances in the Fall Quarter, the UCLA
women’s golf team turned in their best performance of the year in
one of the most competitive college golf tournaments of the
season.
The Bruins finished second in the Regional Challenge Tournament
in Palos Verdes, which featured the top five teams in the
country.
UCLA beat some of the top teams in the country to finish two
shots from their first tournament win of the season as the Stanford
Cardinal took home the first place honors. The 18-team field was
packed with top teams from San Jose State to the defending national
champion, and current No. 1, Arizona Wildcats.
"To lose that tournament by two shots is great," Steinmann said.
"There were some very good teams in that tournament. I’m very proud
of them."
Things were not always great for the Bruins, who returned two
All-Americans to the squad, as the team amassed two 12th and an
eighth place finish in Fall Quarter tournaments.
But the team was injected with a quick "shot in the arm" as
Sophie Sandolo enrolled in UCLA for the beginning of Winter
Quarter.
A highly touted sophomore from France, Sandolo is UCLA’s top
transfer. With a win at the 1996 Italian Junior Championship and
other top finishes on her resume, Sandolo was expected to
contribute immediately to the Bruin team.
And contribute she did as Sandolo in her first collegiate
tournament not only led the Bruins but finished fourth among all
the players who participated in the Regional Challenge tournament.
Sandolo averaged a 74 through three rounds of play on the par 71
course.