April 1, 2012

Final Results (HTML) | Final Results (PDF)

TEMPE, Ariz. - Demi Runas had a 2-over 74 to claim co-medalist honors with a 1-under total and Amy Simanton had a team-best 73 during Sunday's final round of the PING/ASU Invitational as the No. 26 UC Davis women's golf team beat two top-10 teams while tying for fifth place.

Runas, who claimed her second career tournament title overall and second this season, tied Ani Gulugian of UCLA with a 54-hole total of 1-under 212. Runas, ranked 69th by Golfstat, began her year by capturing the Ptarmigan Ram Fall Classic at Colorado State. Gulugian is ranked 38th nationally.

The tournament featured a deep and talented 17-team field with 16 squads currently ranked in Golfstat's top 50, including five who are in the top 10. UC Davis, which shot 19-over 303 during Sunday's windy final round, tied No. 3 USC at 29-over 881 while finishing ahead of No. 8 LSU (885), which was ninth, and No. 7 Vanderbilt (899) which finished 12th.

"This was a fantastic week for the Aggie women's golf program," said head coach Anne Walker. "The ASU Invitational has been around for over 30 years, is one of the most famous events in the country and each year attracts a stellar field. To finish fifth, tied with third-ranked USC, is a successful result. Our goal was to finish in the top 10, so to be in fifth feels great."

Top-ranked UCLA posted a 12-stroke victory over No. 5 Arizona State, posting a three-day total of 5-over 875. The Sun Devils (869) were four strokes in front of third-place Texas A&M (873), ranked 13th, while No. 42 TCU (879) was fourth.

Simanton moved up seven spots in the final round, tying for 19th at 6-over 219. Freshman Blair Lewis had her second straight 74, tying for 38th at 11-over 224, freshman Beverly Vatananugulkit tied for 66th at 16-over 229 after firing an 82, and sophomore Jessica Chulya shot 84, tying for 81st at 23-over 236.

Runas, who opened her tournament with rounds of 70 and 68, was even through seven holes on Sunday after helping her cause with a birdie on the par-5 5th hole. It was the third time this weekend she birdied the hole. Another birdie later on the par-4 11th brought her back to 1 over before six pars and a double-bogey gave her a 74.

Runas posted her third straight top-10 finish and her fifth of the season. It was also the second time she's finished below par, joining her 5-under showing at Colorado State.

"For Demi to win this tournament is a major milestone for UC Davis golf," said Walker. "We had not previously been included in the invite list for this event, so to come here as a rookie and beat a field loaded with the country's best is remarkable. Hopefully Demi can leave here with the confidence of knowing that she does belong in the winner's circle. I believe Amy isn't far behind Demi and we will see her take a tournament in the near future."

Simanton had another outstanding effort for UC Davis as well, carding birdies on two of the course's three par-5 holes while playing both the front and back just 1 over. She had six straight pars in the middle of her round, playing a seven-hole stretch one shot in the red.

Simanton also had her seventh top-20 finish of the year, including her third straight, while posting her best score relative to par this spring.

With the help of a birdie on the par-4 8th hole and just two bogeys, Lewis was just one shot over par at the midway point of her final round. She had another birdie on the back, was just 2 over on her last nine holes and came in with another 74. Her 11-over total was her best of the spring and her third-best of the season.

"Blair had a good showing score-wise but to be here and watch her play was very telling of how much she has developed as a player in seven months," Walker said.

Vatananugulkit, who had an impressive 72 on Friday, struggled on the front nine to go to 8 over in her last round but was just 3 over on the back. She capped her tournament with a solid birdie on the par-4 18th. Chulya began her day with three straight pars and highlighted her round with a birdie on the par-5 14th.

With wind affecting playing conditions, most players in the tournament saw scores shoot up in the final round with just three breaking 70. Arizona State's 7-over 291 was the best team round of the day.

The Aggies will return home and begin preparations for their own tournament - the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate - which they'll co-host with Oregon on Apr. 16-17 at The Ocean Course in Half Moon Bay. The event is in just its second season but is already considered one of the best in collegiate golf.

PING/ASU INVITATIONAL
Tempe, Ariz. (hosted by Arizona State)
Karsten Golf Course
Par 71, 6,121 yards
Final

TEAMS
1. UCLA, 284-281-292-857
2. Arizona State, 280-298-291-869
3. Texas A&M, 287-287-299-873
4. TCU, 292-294-293-879
T5. USC, 289-299-293-881
T5. UC DAVIS, 286-292-303-881
7. Texas, 289-285-309-883
8. UNLV, 287-295-302-884
9. LSU, 294-285-306-885
10. Arizona, 291-297-301-889
11. Stanford, 284-298-308-890
12. Vanderbilt, 295-299-305-899
13. Oklahoma State, 296-297-307-900
T14. New Mexico, 302-291-313-906
T14. Washington, 298-296-312-906
16. San Diego State, 302-298-315-915
17. Oregon State, 306-313-308-927

INDIVIDUAL
T1. Demi Runas, 70-68-74-212
T1. Ani Gulugian, UCLA, 72-69-71-212

UC DAVIS
T19. Amy Simanton, 71-75-73-219
T38. Blair Lewis, 76-74-74-224
T66. Beverly Vatananugulkit, 72-75-82-229
T81. Jessica Chulya, 73-79-84-236