W-Golf Fourth At Anteater

COTO de CAZA, Calif.?The University of Colorado women's golf team posted its second highest finish of the year, a fourth-place showing with a 322-308-313-943 scorecard which boasted a lone top-10 finish in junior Maria Persson-Gulda. Persson-Gulda is the team's low tournament score for the first time this season with a 54-hole 231 for a share of ninth place here Wednesday at the Anteater Invitational.

The top five teams following Tuesday's second round stayed in tact, with host UC-Irvine holding on to its lead in the 10-team field, carding a 295-308-302-905 to finish eight strokes ahead of runner-up Boise State (913) and Colorado State (924). The Buffs' three-round 943 was a slim three strokes ahead of Long Beach State (946).

The individual chase held as well, with Boise State's Ashley Hogg firing a tournament low final round 69 to come in at an even par 73-74-69-216 to finish a comfortable five strokes ahead of UCI's Angela Won (74-74-73-221). Anteater teammate Selanee Henderson (71-79-74-224) was third. While five strokes separated the medalist and runner-up finishers, just seven strokes distinguished the rest of the top 10.

After carding a first round 83, Persson-Gulda has been the Buffs' second and third loop low score and the most consistent player on the Coto de Caza Golf and Country Club layout. She climbed from 40th to 19th after the second round and improved 10 more places Wednesday. After shooting par on the first three holes, her tournament scorecard read 83-74-74-231. The finish was her second in the top-10 this season.

“Maria got off to a really good start today, going par on the first several holes, and was able to maintain her momentum through the rest of the round,” said head coach Anne Kelly.

Hannah Hoch never did find her driver, but according to Kelly fought through the final 18 holes despite the adversity. Hoch's 79-74-79-232 has the sophomore in a share for 12th place with CSU's Tricia Quick. Like Hoch, senior Allison Rella fought through Wednesday's final round with a tournament low 77, a four-stroke improvement from her second to third loop. Her 78-81-77-236 54-hole tally gave her a 19th place showing, her fifth top-20 finish of the year.

“Hannah finds a good score even when she's not hitting the ball well,” complimented Kelly. “But poor Jess, she got off to a good start as well, but once she got on the bogey train she couldn't get off. And Lindsay was even after the first few holes as well.”

Jess Ellis rounded out CU's scoring efforts on the 6,061 yard course, shooting a final round 83 for a 47th place 252, three strokes ahead of teammate Lindsay Senger (255) who finished 52nd.

The Buffs will have 10 days off, beginning with spring break, to prepare for the Mountain View Collegiate, CU's home meet held in Tucson March 26-27. The timing couldn't be better for Kelly and Company to get re-energized heading into the final two regular season tournaments.

“Our goals are still in tact for this season. I told the team that these next two tournaments are huge for us and that we have everything to gain and nothing to lose,” ended Kelly.

ANTEATER INVITATIONAL

Coto de Caza Country Club (Coto de Caza, Calif.)

TEAM SCORES

1. UC-Irvine..................... 295-308-302- 905

2. Boise State.................. 306-305-302- 913

3. Colorado State............. 304-313-307- 924

4. COLORADO................ 322-308-313- 943

5. Long Beach State......... 315-317-314- 946

6. Princeton..................... 317-327-309- 953

7. SW Missouri State........ 321-317-319- 957

8. Grand Valley State........ 324-316-323- 963

9. CSU-Northridge............ 351-336-342- 1029

10. Monmouth.................... 376-355-345- 1076

COLORADO PLAYERS

T9. Maria Persson-Gulda. 83-74-74- 231

T12. Hannah Hoch............ 78-74-79- 232

T19. Allison Rella............... 78-81-77- 236

T47. Jessica Ellis.............. 82-87-83- 252

T52. Lindsay Senger......... 89-79-87- 255

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jess Ellis

Hannah Hoch

Maria Persson-Gulda

Allison Rella

Lindsay Senger

Colorado University Athletics