Buffs Finish Third, Post Third Best 54 Hole Score in School History

Tuesday, April 11

Silicon Valley, Calif.

All Day

Colorado

Third Round

Buffs Finish Third, Post Third Best 54 Hole Score in School History

April 11, 2017 | Women's Golf

Results Highlights

By: Maggie Still, Assistant SID

NAPA Calif. – The University of Colorado women's golf team posted the best team score in the final round here Tuesday, propelling the Buffaloes to a third place finish at the Silverado Showdown at the Silverado Resort and Spa.

Playing in one of its most challenging fields this season, the Buffs improved each round as their final scorecard was 290-287-283---860, the 54 hole total being the third best in school history. The only lower scores came from the 2011-12 season at the Clover Cup (855) and from 2008-09 at the Ptarmigan Ram Classic (852).

"They played extremely well today," head coach Anne Kelly said. "They just had it going. I have been waiting for them to play like this all semester long. This is a very good team, and I knew they could play like this, so it was nice to see it happen. They just came out very determined and ready. I am really happy for them."

CU was only one of three teams to finish the tournament under par at 4-under 860. Tuesday's third place finish marks the first time since the 2010-2011 season that the Buffs finished in the top-5 top for five straight tournaments. Not only did the Buffs record the third best 54 hole score, CU's final round of 283 is the sixth best 18 hole score in CU history.

"Yesterday we played a decent round, but we all walked away a little frustrated," Kelly said. "They felt like they left a lot of shots out on the course, so that is why everyone came out very determined today. They really focused and did what I have been waiting for."

No. 3 ranked Stanford won the event with a 16-under 848. No. 33 ranked Colorado and No. 6 ranked UCLA were back and forth all day battling for the second place finish when the Bruins held steady and jumped ahead of the Buffs to take second with a 54-hole total of 7-under 857. After Colorado in third, California and Northwestern rounded out the top five in tying for fourth at 5-over 869.

Brittany Fan put together a very strong third round of golf firing out a 4-under 68 to give her a three day total of 211, her best 54-hole round of golf this season. Fan finished the tournament tied for fourth place with teammate Kirsty Hodgkins at 5-under 211. Fan sailed through her first seven holes then fired out six birdies through the next nine which propelled her to her first sub 70 round of golf this season. Fan recorded 14 birdies over the course of the tournament which was the fifth best among the impressive field.

"Brittany putted very well today and hit her iron shots well," Kelly said. "She was focused and determined. I just decided to stay out of her way as she was in the zone. Good finish for her and just came out ready to play today. She was just a little frustrated from yesterday."

Kirsty Hodgkins closed out the tournament at 5-under 211 for her best 54-hole round of golf this season to place tied for fourth with Fan. After posting a 69 yesterday Hodgkins started off strong firing out three straight birdies on the front nine. After recording a bogey on hole No. 9, she rebounded with eight straight pars and finished out her tournament dropping a birdie on hole No. 18.

"Kirsty played with some of the top players in the country," Kelly said. "I know she was a little nervous, but she is such a competitor that she settled down and played really well. She really wanted to compete with those girls and likes to compete with alongside the best."

Esther Lee shot a final round of 3-over par 75 to finish tied for 26^th at 3-over 219. Lee struggled a little on the front nine posting four bogeys to go 3-over early. Lee settled down to rally off seven pars and a birdie on the back to close out her tournament with a solid three day total of 219.

"Esther had a rough day," Kelly said. "But I know she will bounce back for the Pac-12 tournament."

Robyn Choi picked right back off where she left off, improving her third round score with a 1-under 71. Choi finished tied for 34^th at 4-over 220. Her back nine were very solid as she fired out three straight birdies and five pars.

Lauryn Keating posted her best round of the tournament at 2-over 74 to finish tied for 83^rd with a 239. Keating finally got revenge on the par 5 hole No. 9 as she recorded a triple bogey both days prior, but dropped a birdie on the hole today.

Competing as an individual, Vance improved from her round two score as she went 6-over 78. Vance, who was playing under the weather for the second straight day recorded a birdie and 12 pars in the final round.

Lilia Vu of UCLA and Hannah Kim of Northwestern both tied for medalist honors posting a 8-under 208 three day total. Andrea Lee of Stanford placed third at 7-under 209 while a group of four golfers including Fan and Hodgkins placed fourth at 5-under 211. This is the first time in CU history two players finished 5-under or better in the same tournament. The 211's are tied for 9^th best in school history as well.

The Buffaloes will now prepare for the Pac-12 Championships, set for April 24-26 in Tucson, Arizona.

NOTABLE

With Brittany getting a Top 5 finish, now four Buffs have combined for six top five finishes this season.
The four Buffs with a top five finish matches the best in program history along with 1998-99 and 2011-12.
The six top 5 finishes as a team ranks tied for fourth best in CU history, just three away from the program best of nine in 2010-11.
Five Buffs now have 11 top 10 finishes this season, matching the fourth best total in CU history, eight away from the CU record of 19 in 2010-11.
Three Buffs now have six rounds in the 60s this season. The three Buffs in the 60s is the second most in CU history behind the 2011-12 team which had four players accomplish that feat.
The six rounds in the 60s is tied for the second most in CU history alongside the 2010-11 and 2014-15 teams and just two behind the standard of eight by the 2011-12 squad.

BUFF INDIVIDUALS

T.26^th Esther Lee	71	73	75	219
T. 4^th Brittany Fan	71	72	68	211
T. 4^th Kirsty Hodgkins	72	69	70	211
T. 34^th Robyn Choi	76	73	71	220
T. 82^nd Lauryn Keating	79	86	74	239
T. 92 Gillian Vance	DNC	84	78	162