April 20, 2010
Complete Results
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - Chelsea Stelzmiller beat teammate Amy Simanton on the third playoff hole, UC Davis had four of the top five individuals, and the Aggies dominated by 19 strokes to claim their first-ever Big West Women's Golf Championship on Tuesday at San Luis Obispo Country Club.
Stelzmiller, a junior from Union Mine High School in Placerville who was also the Big West Player of the Year as a freshman, won the event for the first time in her standout career after tying for second last year and losing in a playoff as a freshman.
She and Simanton, who each posted 54-hole totals of 8-over 224, led a logjam of Aggies at the top of the leaderboard. Freshman Demi Runas was fourth at 10-over while Alice Kim, an All-America honorable mention last year, finished fifth at 11-over. Senior Kimberly Johnson, tied for 15th at 21-over, helping UC Davis places its entire lineup in the top half of the 35-player field.
UC Davis, which earned the Big West's automatic berth to the NCAA Regionals next month, rolled to the title, building its lead throughout the tournament. The Aggies fired a 15-over 303 on Tuesday, taking a 14-stroke lead after two rounds to 19 shots to beat defending champion Long Beach State. UC Davis finished at 36-over 900.
UC Irvine, ranked 40th, was third at 61-over while Cal Poly was fourth in the seven-team field at 84-over.
Stelzmiller led Simanton by one shot entering the final round. Simanton, though, had a 76 over the final 18 holes, Stelzmiller posted a 77 and the pair went to a playoff back on the 18th hole. They both parred the hole twice before Stelzmiller's par on the third playoff netted her medalist honors.
"She's a very deserving winner," said Aggie coach Anne Walker. " She played really steady all tournament and definitely showed her maturity on the golf course."
Simanton jumped to a strong start on Tuesday, carding an eagle on the par-5 first hole and playing the front nine one shot under par. Stelzmiller was even over her first nine holes and five over on the back, forcing a playoff.
Runas tied third-place finisher Simone Hoey of Long Beach State for the tournament's low score of the day with a 73, posting a birdie on the 15th hole to move from two under to one under and help her finish fourth.
Kim had eight pars on the front nine and then a birdie on the par-5 11th. She was four over on her final four holes, finishing in the top 10 for the third straight year. Johnson played her final nne holes just four shots over par.
The Aggies led by eight shots after the first round, extended it to 14 after two rounds and then pushed the lead even further during the third. UC Davis won its third tournament of the year and had its seventh top-five finish.
"It feels really good to come here to the championship and continue the good play we've had all year," said Walker.
NCAA regional competition will take place on May 6-8. The Aggies will be in the regional as a team for the second time in three years as a Division I program. Stelzmiller and Kim represented the Aggies as individuals last season.
BIG WEST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
San Luis Obispo, Calif.
San Luis Obispo Country Club
Par 72, 6,168 yards
Final
TEAMS
1. UC Davis, 298-299-303-900
2. Long Beach State, 307-304-308-919
3. UC Irvine, 306-306-313-925
4. Cal Poly, 324-309-315-948
5. Cal State Northridge, 317-321-321-959
6. UC Riverside, 317-321-332-970
7. Cal State Fullerton, 338-325-332-995
INDIVIDUALS
T1. Chelsea Stelzmiller, UC Davis, 75-72-77-224
T1. Amy Simanton, 74-74-76-224
UC DAVIS
4. Demi Runas, 77-76-73-226
5. Alice Kim, 72-78-77-227
T15. Kimberly Johnson, 78-77-82-237
