ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico – Kaleiya Romero of the Pepperdine women's golf team won the first tournament of her college career on Tuesday at the season-opening Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational. After going 10-under for the tournament, she defeated BYU's Lila Galeai in a playoff.
As a team, Pepperdine shot a two-day total of 874 (298-289-287) at the par-72 UNM Championship Course to finish in fifth place. The Waves improved from 12th to eighth to fifth over the three rounds. Their 1-under today was the third-best score of the third round.
The playoff was contested on the par-5 first hole and Romero had a birdie to secure the win.
PLAYER SCORES
- Sophomore Kaleiya Romero (San Jose, Calif.) finished with a 10-under 206 (70-67-69). The 10-under ties the fourth-best tournament score in Pepperdine history, and is the best by any Wave since 2014. Her final round featured six birdies and she had a tournament-best 17 overall. Romero finished third at this tournament when it was held this past April. Her previous best finish was a tie for second at the 2021 West Coast Conference Championships.
- Freshman Lauren Gomez (Murrieta, Calif.), making her college debut, tied for 16th at 218 (73-74-71). Her first career top-20 came after her first career below-par round. Her 1-under today included three birdies.
- Sophomore Lion Higo (Gold Coast, Australia) tied for 48th at 225 (78-74-73). She had three birdies in the final round.
- Junior Reese Guzman (Kahului, Hawai'i) tied for 53rd at 226 (77-74-75). She had two birdies on Tuesday.
- Graduate student Megan Dennis (Bedfordshire, United Kingdom) tied for 59th at 227 (78-75-74). She posted two birdies today.
- Playing as an individual, freshman Milla Sagel (Bielefeld, Germany) was 91st at 244 (83-79-82).
QUOTABLE
In describing the playoff, Romero said: "I won the coin toss and went first. I hit a pretty good drive, but it was a little left and in the rough. She hit it in the fairway past me. I hit my 6-iron, and it went just left of the green, in the rough. She hit it a little right. She then chipped up to about 20 feet. I went and chipped it within a foot. She missed her putt and I made it.
"I don't know how it happened, I'm still taking it in. I haven't had the best six months golf-wise, but I've been putting in so much work. I've been working with the coaches and getting my driver dialed in. It all came together this week. It's great. I went through a tough stretch recently, and this gives me so much confidence for our upcoming tournaments. My game is back where I want it to be and I hope I can keep winning."
UP NEXT
Pepperdine's second tournament of the season is the Badger Invitational in Wisconsin, which runs Sunday through next Tuesday (Sept. 19-21).
THE NUMBERS
Team Standings: 1. BYU 858; 2. San Jose State 864; 3. New Mexico 867; 4. San Diego State 872;
5. Pepperdine 874; T6. Colorado 875; T6. Kansas 875; 8. Oregon State 879; 9. Texas State 880; 10. California 885; 11. Denver 887; 12. UNLV 888; 13. Fresno State 889; 14. Iowa 897; 15. New Mexico State 898; 16. Colorado State 908.
Individual Leaders: 1.** Kaleiya Romero (Pepperdine) 206; 2. Lila Galeai (BYU) 206; 3. Napat Lertsadwattana (New Mexico) 209; 4. Antonia Malate (San Jose State) 210; 5. Sera Tadokoro (Kansas) 212.
** won a playoff
