Women's Golf Takes First Place in Heather Farr

BOULDER ? The University of Colorado women's golf team played strong through windy conditions and held on to a wire-to-wire lead to win the Heather Farr Memorial/CU Invitational here Tuesday.

“It's a thrill to finally win our home tournament and it is well deserved by the team,” said head coach Anne Kelly. “They have worked really hard this year and they especially prepared well this week before the event.”

The Buffaloes (301-287-297?885) were followed by the University of Oklahoma (289-299-301?889), the University of Idaho (300-290-300?890), Colorado State University (293-299-307?899), and UC Davis (300-296-304?900) to round out the top five.

Colorado has finished second three times in the tournament but today's win marks the first time in tournament history that the Buffs have played to a first place finish.

Sophomore Dominique Pytlewski led the way for the Buffaloes, shooting an even par 216 for the tournament. Pytlewski started strong out of the gate in the first two rounds, posting back-to-back sub-par rounds before shooting a final round three-over par 75.

“With the wind the way it was today, we knew that they scores weren't going to be great,” said Pytlewski. “We knew that we would have to have two people play really well and be able to follow that up with two decent scores. It was definitely a full team effort all week long. Cierra (Ko) played really well yesterday and it definitely showed what she can do.”

Kayla Morinaga of Portland State took first place with a two-under par 214. Pytlewski followed two strokes back with her even-par score and there were five players tied for third with a final total of 219.

Senior Lindsay Senger played a strong third round for the Buffaloes, posting five sub par scores on the back nine to finish with a two-under 71 on the day. Senger's scores were good for a two-day total of 220, landing her an eighth place finish in the tournament.

“It feels nice to win a tournament after we struggled so badly two weeks ago,” said Senger. “ I didn't know how close it was until we finished and I'm glad that I didn't. It took the pressure off me and I was able to finish strong on my last four holes.”

Sophomore Julie Kim, after shooting a first day low 69 in the second round, slipped back 11 strokes in the third round and finished with a three-round score of 74-69-80?223. Kim wrapped up the tournament in a tie for 18th place.

Freshman Stephanie Simich made an impressive turnaround in the final round as she birdied three holes in a row on the front nine and finished with a third round total of 71. Simich (85-80-71?236) finished the tournament tied for 62nd.

Junior Cierra Ko shot a career-low 75 in the second round, but finished 75th after a third round score of 87.

“This was a complete team effort,” said Kelly. “Cierra's 75 in her second round was a big factor and Stephanie's comeback today was huge. Lindsay Senger with her senior leadership and her third round 71 was also very important. It was a total team effort and I'm really proud of them.”

The Buffs will return to action on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 8-9 when they travel to Lubbock, Texas for the Texas Tech Invitational.

BUFFALO INDIVIDUALS

Dominique Pytlewski ... 71-70-75?216
Lindsay Senger ........... 76-73-71?220
Julie Kim .................... 74-69-80?223
Stephanie Simich ........ 85-80-71?236
Cierra Ko .................... 80-75-87?242

TEAM RESULTS

1       Colorado................. 301-287-297?885
2       Oklahoma................. 289-299-301?889
3       Idaho........................ 300-290-300?890
4       Colorado State.......... 293-299-307?899
5       UC Davis ................. 300-296-304?900
6       Oregon..................... 308-298-295?901
7       Oregon State............ 310-292-303?905
8       Hawaii...................... 299-297-310?906
9       Fresno State............. 303-296-309?908
10     San Diego State........ 306-299-311?916
T11   Eastern Washington.. 306-298-314?918
T11   Boise State............... 319-299-300?918
13     Long Beach.............. 306-303-312?921
T14   Nevada..................... 311-311-304?926
T14   Portland State........... 318-298-310?926
16     Wyoming.................. 309-312-313?934
17     Northern Colorado .... 321-306-318?945
18     Gonzaga................... 317-308-321?946
19     Montana State.......... 331-308-327?966
20     Weber State............. 332-320-318?970

TOP 13 INDIVIDUALS

1       Kayla Morinaga (Portland State).......... 74-69-71?214
2       Dominique Pytlewski (Colorado)....... 71-70-75?216
T3     Stefanie Ferguson (Colorado State)...... 71-75-73?219
T3     Chloe Nelson (Eastern Washington)..... 74-71-74?219
T3     Laura Luethke (Fresno State)............... 72-72-75?219
T3     Bryana Gregory (UC Davis)................. 73-70-76?219
T3     Melanie De Leon (Nevada)................... 76-75-68?219
T8     Martha Burkard (Oregon State)............ 78-74-68?220
T8     Anna Booth (San Diego State).............. 73-73-74?220
T8     Lindsay Senger (Colorado)................ 76-73-71?220
T11 Kendra Little (Oregon)..........................    78-71-72?221
T11 Kendall Dye (Oklahoma)...................... 73-75-73?221
T11 Kelly Jacques (Oklahoma)................... 71-75-75?221