March 6, 2012
Rsults
<>SAN JOSE, Calif. - Demi Runas fired a 5-over 77 on Tuesday morning during a windy final round of the Juli Inkster Spartan Invitational at San Jose State, finishing fifth and leading three teammates among the top 12, as No. 25 UC Davis placed third in the team standings.
UC Davis shot a final-round team score of 313 for a 54-hole total of 37-over 901. The Aggies began the day five shots behind No. 23 Cal but No. 21 Oregon was able to move past UC Davis to take the runner-up finish. The Golden Bears were 15-over 879 for the week while the Ducks were 28-over 892.
The Aggies finished six shots ahead of No. 13 Washington and were eight in front of Big West Conference rival UC Irvine.
Runas earned her second top-five and third top-10 finish of the season, covering the Almaden Golf and Country Club course in 4-over 220. Junior Amy Simanton and freshman Beverly Vatananugulkit joined her in the top 12, tying for 12th at 11-over 227 after carding 80 and 81, respectively, on Tuesday. Sophomore Jessica Chulya had another strong finish for the Aggies, tying for 17th at 13-over 229 after closing with a team-tying best 77 while freshman Blair Lewis tied for 37th at 22-over 238 after shooting 79 on Tuesday.
"We have a lot to work on so that when the time comes we will be ready to compete at the NCAA Championship," said Aggie coach Anne Walker. "This week has given us an opportunity to analyze our games and make a plan to get better."
Joanne Lee of Cal led a 1-2 finish for the Bears by shooting 73 in the final round for a 2-under 214 total. She edged teammate Daniela Holmqvist by a stroke while Lalita Patipaksiri of UC Irvine was third at par.
Runas started her day well, picking up a birdie on the par-5 first hole and made the turn even after seven pars and a bogey. She was just 2 over before a triple-bogey on the 18th gave her a 77. Runas won the season-opening Ptarmigan Ram Fall Classic at Colorado State in September and tied for ninth at the Windy City Collegiate in October for her other top finishes this year.
Simanton was 4 over after just two holes on Tuesday but then battled back with three birdies over her next five holes. She had five bogeys on the course's back nine while posting her fifth top-20 finish of the season after her round of 80. Vatananugulkit was 5 over on the front and 4 over on the back while shooting 81.
Chulya had a steady round in the tough conditions, carding her 77 after benefitting from 14 pars while Lewis had three birdies to help her close with a 79.
The Aggies will be back in action on Monday and Tuesday when they travel to Oahu, Hawaii for the 54-hole Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational hosted by the University of Hawai'i.
JULI INKSTER SPARTAN INVITATIONAL
San Jose, Calif. (hosted by San Jose State)
Almaden Golf and Country Club
Par 72, 6,169 yards
Final
TEAMS
1. California, 287-296-296-879
2. Oregon, 297-300-295-892
3. UC DAVIS, 295-293-313-901
4. Washington, 296-300-311-907
5. UC Irvine, 301-303-305-909
6. San Jose State, 300-304-318-922
7. Fresno State, 313-315-311-939
8. Colorado State, 309-310-324-943
9. Gonzaga, 306-312-328-946
10. San Francisco, 315-313-330-958
11. Nevada, 318-314-329-961
12. Hawaii, 323-326-335-984
INDIVIDUAL
1. Joanne Lee, Cal, 71-70-73-214
UC DAVIS
5. Demi Runas, 74-69-77-220
T12. Beverely Vatananugulkit, 74-72-81-227
T12. Amy Simanton, 72-75-80-227
T17. Jessica Chulya, 75-77-77-229
T37. Blair Lewis, 81-78-79-238
