WAIMEA, Hawaii – The second competition for Vanguard women's golf in Hawaii started Friday morning as the Lions took part in the Dennis Rose Intercollegiate Invitational, hosted by The University of Hawaii Hilo. The event once again drew high-level NCAA competition, but the Lions had some good scores themselves and finished tied for 11th with 608 total strokes (307-301). Cal State San Marcos won the event by going 13 shots under par, 21 strokes better than Sonoma State in second (+8). Madison Murr won the individual trophy for San Marcos at -11 and
Shanaya Neru led the Blue and Gold by finishing tied for 25th with a 149.
The Course: The Village Course at Waikoloa was designed by Robert Trent Jones II and wraps around the private community while looking down upon the Kohala Coast. The wide fairways and open approaches to the greens are inviting but the greens are well shielded by sand bunkers, highlighting the wedge game for all players. The par 72 layout has a maximum yardage of 6,812 yards.
What Happened? The opening round was productive for Neru, who pocketed a 74 to open the event. She had three birdies on the first, 10th, and 14th holes, balancing that with 10 pars. She entered the clubhouse tied for 24th, three shots ahead of
Zoee Lynch. Lynch shot a 77 and was tied for 53rd after one day of play. She birdied the first and third holes and made par on 10 other holes.
Shyla Tigilau recorded a 77 on day one. She birdied the fourth hole and put down 12 pars to end tied with Lynch and others in 53rd. Not too far behind was
Brooklyn Motske, who shot a 79 on Friday with birdies on the seventh and 11th holes. She bundled that with eight pars and was tied for 67th after round one.
The second day of competition dawned and Neru lost just one shot on Saturday, finishing with a 75. She had four birdies and eight pars on day two. She was tied for eighth with seven birdies for the tournament and collected 18 total pars. Neru really made up ground on the par-five holes, going -4 for the event. Tigilau had the best round on Saturday for Vanguard, posting a 74. She had a birdie on the 16th hole and 14 pars, with nine of those happening in a row. That gave her a 151 for the event, ending tied for 39th. She shot even par on the par-three holes and was +3 on par-four holes, which was tied for 14th. She had 26 pars, which was tied for eighth among all players.
Motske once again sliced shots off her score on the second day of play, as she tacked on a 75 to give her a grand total of 154. She had three birdies and eight pars on Saturday and ended tied for 57th. She was clinical on the short holes, going -1 on par-three holes for the tournament. She also had five total birdies and 17 pars. Lynch equaled her 77 from day one to end tied for 57th as well with 154 strokes. She had a birdie on the 11th on day two and put in 13 pars, including six in a row. She finished with 23 total pars and three birdies, went +1 on par-three holes, and went even on the par-five holes.
The Lions as a team were tied for fourth in par three performance at +3 for the event and were middle of the pack on par four and five holes. VU had 84 total pars and had the ninth-most birdies with 17.
What's Next? The women's team will not feature again until the spring season, with the spring schedule set to be released in December.
