DOWNEY, Calif. -- Vanguard women's golf started the spring portion of the season at the Rio Hondo Golf Club the past two days and the Lions ended the Cal State LA Spring Kickoff in ninth out of the 15 teams that competed. VU was 58 shots over par for the event (413), trailing the winners, CSU San Marcos, who had a team total of 377 (+22). CSU Monterey Bay's Tilda Kvarnrud won the tournament by shooting an even 142 (74-68).
Sehlai Purcell and
Shyla Tigilau were the top Vanguard golfers, as each ended tied for 37th at +14.
The Course: Originally built in the 1920s but redesigned in 1994, the Rio Hondo GC in Downey has a maximum yardage of 6,370 yards and is a par 71. Featuring plenty of trees and four water hazards, the 14th hole asks golfers to clear a lake to make the green, but otherwise, the course is straight and easily navigable.
What Happened? Purcell had nine pars during round one to net an 81. Tigilau was the top performer for Vanguard on Monday, as she had a five-over round of 76 that included a birdie on the 17th and 11 pars.
Brooklyn Motske was behind her with a 79, as the graduate student put down 11 pars, including five in a row on the back nine.
Brooke Carpenter had a birdie on the fourth hole and nine pars to collect an 83 and
Shanaya Neru had five pars to nab an 87.
Purcell slashed six shots off her tally on day two to lead VU with a round of 75, which featured a birdie on the sixth hole and 13 pars, seven of which came in succession on the back nine. Rising from 56th, Purcell matched Tigilau for a final score of 156. Tigilau had an 80 today, gathering nine pars and a birdie on the 11th. Carpenter rose from 53rd in the standings to 43rd on Tuesday thanks to a second-round score of 77. She had a birdie on the third hole and 10 pars to finish with 157 strokes at +15. Motske also ended at +15 by corralling a 78 for round two, which included seven pars in a row on the front row to rack up 12 in total on Tuesday. Neru shot an 89 on the final day to finish at +34 in 81st. She had six pars over the duration of her second round.
The Lions were +51 on par fours and +11 on par fives, with those metrics landing the squad in seventh and eighth respectively among the field. VU also had the seventh most pars with 95.
What's Next? The Blue and Gold appears next at the Menlo PCH Invitational at the Quail Lodge Golf Resort in Carmel, CA., over February 24-25.
