ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The #15 Pepperdine women's golf team got the 2023-24 season started on a high note this week, winning the first tournament of the season as the Waves scored an 850 (292-270-288) to take home the Branch Law Firm Dick McGuire Invitational title.
 
Three Waves finished in the top-10 at the par-72 UNM Championship Course, led by a stellar performance from junior Lauren Gomez who shot under par in all three rounds to tie for first at one point in the final round, but eventually finish tied for third. 
 
Pepperdine began the day 14-under with an 11-stroke margin over the team in second-place, and stayed consistent throughout the day to finish at the 14-under mark.  The Waves led Kansas in second by 10-strokes and Arizona State in third by 17-strokes by the end of the round. 
 
The highlight of the tournament came in the second round for the Waves, as the team tied the lowest 18-hole score in program history with an 18-under 270.  Throughout the two rounds on opening day, the Waves 14-under sits third in the record books for lowest 36-hole score.  Overall, the 14-under ranks seventh in records at Pepperdine.
 
This is the fourth time in program history Pepperdine has won this specific tournament, as the Waves accomplished the feat in the fall of the 2005-06, 2009-10 and 2013-14 seasons.
 
PLAYER SCORES

• Junior Lauren Gomez (Murrieta, Calif.) tied for third with a three-round score of 208 (71-66-71).  She shot below par in all three rounds, the first time a Wave has done so since March last season.  She started the tournament with a stellar first day, including a career-low 6-under in the second round.  She totaled 14 birdies throughout the tournament, including four birdies in the final round, working ahead to a tie for first place at one point in the day.
• Senior Kaleiya Romero (San Jose, Calif.) finished tied for eighth with a score of 213 (73-68-72).  She amassed 10 birdies in the tournament, including four in the final round and eagled the fifth hole in the first round.
• Senior Lion Higo (Gold Coast, Australia) finished tied for 10^th with a score of 214 (73-68-73).  She tabbed a pair of birdies in the round today and 10 overall, while also eagling the fourth hole in the second round yesterday.
• Sophomore Jeneath Wong (Melbourne, Australia) tied for 24^th with a score of 218 (75-68-75).  She marked nine birdies, including one in the final round today.
• Junior KaYee Kwok (Tianjin, China) posted a 222 (75-75-72) to tie for 41^st.  She tabbed seven birdies in the tournament. 

UP NEXT
On September 25-27, the Waves will be back on the road in Vail, Colo. to compete at the Golfweek Red Sky Classic. The Waves won the tournament last season and Lion Higo was the medalist.   
 
THE NUMBERS
Team Standings: 1. Pepperdine 850; 2. Kansas 860; 3. Arizona State 867; 4. UNLV 869; T5. SMU 875; T5. New Mexico 875; 7. Kent State 877; 8. Cal 878; 9. Iowa State 880; T10. Denver 883; T10. Ohio State 883; T12. Northwestern 886; T12. Texas State 886; 14. Oregon State 887; 15. Boise State 897; 16. San Diego State 909.
 
Individual Leaders: T1. Veronika Kedronova (Kent State) 207; T1. McKenzi Hall (UNLV) 207; T3. Lauren Gomez (Pepperdine) 208; T3. Lauren Lehigh (New Mexico) 208; 5. Raya Nakao (Oregon State) 210; 6. Ashley Menne (Arizona State) 211; 7. Bohyun Park (Texas) 212; T8. Kaleiya Romero (Pepperdine) 213; T8. Mackenzie Lee (SMU) 213; T10. Lion Higo (Pepperdine) 214; T10. Jordan Rothman (Kansas) 214; T10. Caley McGinty (Ohio State (214); T14. Grace Summerhays (Arizona State) 214.