March 4, 2014
Results
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Paige Lee and Andrea Wong finished in the top 10 and Betty Chen used a 3-under 69 to help tie for 11th on Tuesday afternoon as the No. 37 UC Davis women's golf team posted its second runner-up finish of the spring with a strong showing at the Juli Inkster Spartan Invitational.
The Aggies fired an even-par 288 team score in the final round, matching winner and No. 20 Oregon which began and ended the day two shots in front of UC Davis. Oregon finished the 54-hole tournament 12 over while the Aggies were second at 14 over. San Jose State (+19), New Mexico (+27) and San Francisco (+28) completed the top five.
UC Davis held a two-shot lead at various points of the final round before Oregon rallied for the win.
UC Davis had its top four golfers all place in the top 27, paced by Lee who shot 72 on Tuesday and tied for fifth at par-216. Wong carded a 71 and tied for eighth at 3 over while Chen had a seven-shot improvement with her round of 69 to place 11th at 5 over. Blair Lewis tied for 27th at 10 over and Jessica Chulya tied for 52nd at 17 over.
"We finished the event on a really solid note," said Aggie coach Anna Temple. "It was a great competition today especially with solid rounds from our sophomores - Andrea and Betty - and a very consistent tournament from Paige.
"We have nearly three weeks before we play again so we will get some good work in to improve each day before we head into the thick of our spring competition."
The runner-up finish was the second in three tournaments this spring for UC Davis which was also second at the Peg Barnard Invitational at Stanford in February. The Aggies and Oregon were the only top-50 ranked teams in the 13-team tournament at San Jose State.
Lee had her second-highest finish during her freshman season. She was fourth at the Golfweek Conference Challenge in February. Lee strung together rounds of 72 each day and showed her consistency on Tuesday by posting one par, one bogey and 16 pars.
Wong had a bogey on the par-5 first hole but then had three birdies and only one bogey the rest of the way to card her best score of the week. Chen, the Big West Golfer of the Month for February, showed why she earned that award, going 2 under after just five holes and then shaving another shot the remainder of the round.
Lewis started well, going just 1 over after 10 holes, and had a birdie on the par-14th hole later but finished with a 76. Chulya shot 80 and had 11 pars.
Medalist honors were shared by three players. Martina Edberg of Cal State Fullerton, Cathleen Santoso of Oregon and Sammi Stevens of New Mexico each took home top honors after finishing 3 under. Lee was tied with two others for fifth.
The Aggies will take a brief break from competing, returning to action on Mar. 24-26 with the Anuenue Spring Break Classic hosted by Hawai'i.
JULI INKSTER SPARTAN INVITATIONAL
San Jose, Calif. (hosted by San Jose State)
Almaden Golf and Country Club
Par 72, 6,162 yards
Final
TEAMS
1. Oregon, 296-292-288-876
2. UC DAVIS, 299-291-288-878
3. San Jose State, 295-301-287-883
4. New Mexico, 303-300-288-891
5. San Francisco, 295-295-302-892
6. Portland State, 308-296-293-897
T7. Coastal Carolina, 300-303-298-903
T7. Santa Clara, 307-292-302-901
T7. Cal State Fullerton, 305-300-296-901
10. Boise State, 307-302-293-902
11. Colorado State, 305-302-300-907
12. Fresno State, 312-300-299-911
13. Nevada, 304-315-307-926
INDIVIDUALS
T1. Martina Edberg, Cal State Fullerton, 71-71-71-213
T1. Cathleen Santoso, Oregon., 73-72-68-213
T1. Sammi Stevens, New Mexico, 71-71-71-213
UC DAVIS
T5. Paige Lee, 72-72-72-216
T8. Andrea Wong, 76-72-71-219
T11. Betty Chen, 76-76-69-221
T27. Blair Lewis, 79-71-76-226
T52. Jessica Chulya, 75-78-80-233
