Sunday, April 11
Albuquerque, N.M.
Pepperdine University
at
Dick McGuire Invitational
Reese Guzman
Photo by: Jeff Golden
Women's Golf Competes at Dick McGuire Invitational
4/9/2021 10:16:00 AM | Women's Golf
MALIBU, California — The Pepperdine women's golf team went from Louisiana to New Mexico for its second tournament in less than a week, as the Waves begin play at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational this weekend.
EVENT INFO — The McGuire will be held at the par-72, 6,317-yard UNM Championship Golf Course located in Albuquerque, N.M. It's a two-day event (April 11-12) with 36 holes on Sunday and the final 18 holes on Monday. There will be live scoring on Golfstat.
FIELD — In addition to Pepperdine, the 12-team tournament includes host New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado State, Denver, Grand Canyon, Kansas State, New Mexico State, Northern Arizona, UNLV, Washington and Wyoming.
According to Golfstat/Sagarin rankings, the Waves are one of six top-60 programs in the field.
PEPPERDINE LINEUP — The Waves' lineup consists of freshman Lion Higo (Gold Coast, Australia), sophomore Reese Guzman (Kahului, Hawai'i), freshman Caroline Hwang (Orlando, Fla.), senior Megan Dennis (Bedfordshire, United Kingdom) and freshman Kaleiya Romero (San Jose, Calif.).
RANKINGS — Pepperdine is #54 by Golfweek/Sagarin and #63 by Golfstat.
EVENT HISTORY — This is Pepperdine's 18th appearance at the McGuire since 1997. The Waves won the tournament in 2005, 2009 and 2013. Pepperdine produced the medalist at each of the last two McGuires (Hira Naveed in 2018 and Momoka Kobori in 2019), and other winners included Eileen Vargas in 2005 and Katherine Hull in 2002. The Waves finished second as a team in both 2018 and 2019.
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS — The Waves had a successful start to the spring season. First, they defeated New Mexico State and Cal State Fullerton in their three-team Moorpark Intercollegiate. Caroline Hwang was the medalist and the Waves took the top four spots on the leaderboard. Hwang received the WCC's Player of the Month award for February ... Then, Pepperdine took fourth place at the 12th annual Bruin Wave Invitational, the team's best finish at its own event since 2014. The Waves went from eighth to sixth to fourth over the three days. Reese Guzman took fifth place ... Lion Higo tied for 10th against an extremely strong field at the LSU Tiger Golf Classic.
ABOUT PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY — Pepperdine boasts a one-of-a-kind athletic department with unprecedented success for a school of its size. The Waves have won NCAA Division I championships in five different men's sports — one of just 18 schools to have accomplished this feat — and nine overall. Of this elite group, Pepperdine has the smallest undergraduate enrollment, is the only school without football and is the only university that has not been affiliated with a "major" conference. The Waves have won a total of 25 team or individual national championships in their history. Pepperdine has also earned the Division I-AAA All-Sports Trophy, an award based on postseason success that's given to the top non-football school, three times (most recently in 2011-12). Located in scenic Malibu, California, the university overlooks the Pacific Ocean and its campus and athletic facilities are regularly voted among the nation's most beautiful. Pepperdine, which is affiliated with the Church of Christ, ranks #49 overall on U.S. News and World Report's list of America's best colleges.
EVENT INFO — The McGuire will be held at the par-72, 6,317-yard UNM Championship Golf Course located in Albuquerque, N.M. It's a two-day event (April 11-12) with 36 holes on Sunday and the final 18 holes on Monday. There will be live scoring on Golfstat.
FIELD — In addition to Pepperdine, the 12-team tournament includes host New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado State, Denver, Grand Canyon, Kansas State, New Mexico State, Northern Arizona, UNLV, Washington and Wyoming.
According to Golfstat/Sagarin rankings, the Waves are one of six top-60 programs in the field.
PEPPERDINE LINEUP — The Waves' lineup consists of freshman Lion Higo (Gold Coast, Australia), sophomore Reese Guzman (Kahului, Hawai'i), freshman Caroline Hwang (Orlando, Fla.), senior Megan Dennis (Bedfordshire, United Kingdom) and freshman Kaleiya Romero (San Jose, Calif.).
RANKINGS — Pepperdine is #54 by Golfweek/Sagarin and #63 by Golfstat.
EVENT HISTORY — This is Pepperdine's 18th appearance at the McGuire since 1997. The Waves won the tournament in 2005, 2009 and 2013. Pepperdine produced the medalist at each of the last two McGuires (Hira Naveed in 2018 and Momoka Kobori in 2019), and other winners included Eileen Vargas in 2005 and Katherine Hull in 2002. The Waves finished second as a team in both 2018 and 2019.
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS — The Waves had a successful start to the spring season. First, they defeated New Mexico State and Cal State Fullerton in their three-team Moorpark Intercollegiate. Caroline Hwang was the medalist and the Waves took the top four spots on the leaderboard. Hwang received the WCC's Player of the Month award for February ... Then, Pepperdine took fourth place at the 12th annual Bruin Wave Invitational, the team's best finish at its own event since 2014. The Waves went from eighth to sixth to fourth over the three days. Reese Guzman took fifth place ... Lion Higo tied for 10th against an extremely strong field at the LSU Tiger Golf Classic.
ABOUT PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY — Pepperdine boasts a one-of-a-kind athletic department with unprecedented success for a school of its size. The Waves have won NCAA Division I championships in five different men's sports — one of just 18 schools to have accomplished this feat — and nine overall. Of this elite group, Pepperdine has the smallest undergraduate enrollment, is the only school without football and is the only university that has not been affiliated with a "major" conference. The Waves have won a total of 25 team or individual national championships in their history. Pepperdine has also earned the Division I-AAA All-Sports Trophy, an award based on postseason success that's given to the top non-football school, three times (most recently in 2011-12). Located in scenic Malibu, California, the university overlooks the Pacific Ocean and its campus and athletic facilities are regularly voted among the nation's most beautiful. Pepperdine, which is affiliated with the Church of Christ, ranks #49 overall on U.S. News and World Report's list of America's best colleges.
Players Mentioned
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